glances. A young lady is playing the piano, and over all this
scene of life, and light, and gaiety, the electric lamps gleam in steady
splendor.

Elder Malby soon retired. Chester remained in the saloon for a time,
studying the various aspects of life about him; then he made a
good-night visit to the deck. He looked into the men's smoking room,
where a few yet sat with pipes and beer, playing cards. Among them were
two men, fat-cheeked, smoothly shaven, who were dressed in priestly
garb. There was an expressive American in the company, an Englishman and
a quiet German. Before the American could carry into effect his
intention of asking Chester to join them, the latter had passed by and
out beyond the stench of the tobacco smoke.

"This air, washed clean by a thousand miles of scouring waves, is good
enough for me," thought he.

The wind was not blowing so hard. The sky was nearly clear of clouds.
The moon hung full and bright above the heaving horizon. Here was
another aspect of the wonderful sea, and Chester lingered to get its
full beauty. The steamer rolled heavily between the big waves. The young
man leaned on the railing, and watched the ship's deck dip nearly to
the water, then heave back until the iron sides were exposed nearly to
the keel.

Chester was about to turn in for the night when he heard a commotion,
apparently among the third class passengers. He walked along to where he
could look down on the forward main deck. A number of people were
running about shouting excitedly. Chester ran down the steps to get a
nearer view.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"I don't know. Someone overboard, I think."

People were crowding to the rail at the extreme forward end of the ship.
Someone with authority was trying to push them back, using the
old-fashioned ship-board language to aid him. Chester drew near enough
not to be in the way, but so that he could observe what was going on. By
leaning well over the rail, he could see what appeared to be two persons
clinging to the anchor, which hung on the ship's side, about half-way
down to the water. One was a dark figure, the other appeared in the
moonlight to be a woman dressed in white. Other ships-men now rushed up.

"Clear way here! Where's the rope? Hang on, my man; we'll soon get
you"--this down the side of the ship. There came some words in reply,
but Chester did not hear them. A rope was lowered. "Slip the loop around
the lady," was the order from above. T