" replied Chester as he came nearly carrying his father.

"Where is Lucy?"

"Lucy is not coming, sir. She does not need to--she has gone
already--she--"

"What? What is it? We need to hurry, my boy!"

"Lucy is dead!"

"Dead!--Bring Mr. Strong along. The boat is waiting."

The boat hung by its davits, ready for lowering.

"We are full," said the officer, "and the deck is cleared. There is need
for hurry, sir."

"There is," replied Captain Brown. "Make room for two more."

"We can't do it sir--not in this sea--we are overcrowded now."

"You must--close up, lie down, make room."

One of the officers offered to get out, then another did the same, but
the captain would not hear. "No," he said, "you men have families."

Still the boat hung there in the darkness. What could be done? The waves
rolled beneath, the wind moaned in the rigging.

"We might risk one more, sir," came from the boat.

The captain looked at Chester, big, strong, full of youth, and then at
the slender, gray-haired man. What a pity, and yet he knew the younger
man would have to remain. That is the law of the sea.

"I'll not go," said the father. "You go, Chester."

"No, no; we'll manage somehow; but you must take the chance. Here, help
him in."

Captain Brown stood by with lifted lantern. He did not dictate which of
the two should go. He had no need of that. He saw Chester lift the old
man in his arms, hold him for an instant close to him, kiss him and
murmur, "Goodby father, and God bless and preserve you"--then he handed
him over to outstretched hands in the boat.

Captain Brown and Chester Lawrence stood by the railing and watched the
boat lowered. Then when they knew it was safely riding the waves, they
turned to each other.

"Where is your life-belt?" asked the Captain. "Get it, and put it on."

"Is there a chance?"

"There is always a chance. Come. We shall go together, one way or
another--the way God wills."

They walked along the slanting deck down to where Lucy lay on the couch
in the smoking room. Chester did not notice the life-belt on the table,
but he lifted a lantern to Lucy's face, kneeled by it, and kissed it
tenderly. "Lucy," he said, "my sweetheart, where are you? Don't you want
me to come too?" He stroked the still face, and smoothed back the hair
as he was wont. "Aren't you afraid in that new world to which you have
gone--aren't you as lonesome as--I am? O Lucy, Lucy!"

"Come put on this belt," said the capt