r
strength later. There is no danger tonight. Go to bed."

Chester took the captain's advice. He went to bed, but it was not easy
to go to sleep, so he did not do this until well towards morning.

The storm was still on next morning when Chester awoke. He dressed
hurriedly, listened again at Lucy's and his father's doors, but hearing
nothing went on deck. The day was well advanced. The wind seemed not so
strong as the night before, and the waves were not so high. However, the
sea was rough enough to add to the danger of a sinking ship. Chester
noticed the "list to larboard," and the "settling at the head," and
found both of these dangerous conditions worse. The most careless
observer would not now fail to see that something was the matter. And,
in fact, as the passengers came on deck that morning, most of them late
and looking bad from threatened attacks of sea-sickness, they
immediately remarked on the slanting deck. Anxious enquiries from
officers and seamen brought no satisfactory reply. Had there been a
large number of passengers, there would likely have been an unpleasant
panic that morning.

The breakfast was late, and very few of the passengers were there to
partake of it. Captain Brown was in his place, greeting the few who
slipped carefully into their seats. As the meal progressed and not over
half of the usual company put in an appearance, the captain consulted
with the second officer and the steward. Then at the close of the meal,
the captain arose and said:

"My friends, I wish you to remain until we can get all who are able to
join us here. I have something to say which I want all of you to hear.
So please remain seated. The steward will see that no one leaves the
room."

One by one the absent passengers were brought in. Thomas Strong was
among them, but not Lucy, for which Chester was thankful. The steward
reported that all who were able were present, and then amid a tense
silence, emphasized only by the creaking of the ship and the subdued
noise of the sea without, the captain said:

"I am sorry to have to tell you that the ship is in a sinking condition.
There is a leak which we have been unable to stop. Two of our boilers
are already useless and it is only a matter of time when the water will
reach the others. I have not said anything about this until now, for I
have been hoping to meet with some vessel that could take us off. So
far, none has appeared. However, we are in the steamer zone, and we