tments of the Prince, his sister and
his guest, and, for some reason I could not with my dizzy head
conjecture, I was alone. I looked down the corridor, which was in
gentle light, but saw nothing; it was as silent as though it had been
plunged in the profound peace and slumber of the night. Without, the
racket of noises reached me as in a dream, and I remember that I sat
down on a couch in the corridor, my empty revolver in my hand.

What ensued or how long I sat there I do not know; but I think it could
not have been very long. I was aroused by a voice, and looked up
stupidly. A face floated in the mists before me, and I nodded in a
friendly way, smiling, and opened my mouth to speak. Instead I lurched
forward and was conscious of warm arms, the soft pressure of a human
body, and the fragrance of a dress. There was a time when I seemed to
sway alone in a cold and dreary vacancy, but soon there returned to my
senses the warmth and the fragrance and the ineffable comfort of some
presence. Some liquid was forced between my lips, and I drank; and as I
drank my brain cleared, and I looked and was aware who was supporting
me with her arm. It was Princess Alix.

"Madam----" I began stuttering.

"Hush! Drink this," she said quickly. "We have need of you. We cannot
spare a man like you. You have no dangerous wound?"

"I think not," I said with difficulty. "A blow on the head----"

My hand went feebly to it as I spoke, and came away with a patch of
red. I rose and totteringly picked up my revolver, which had fallen.
"What has happened?"

She shook her head. "I was up in the hurricane-deck, but my brother
sent me down. There is nothing to be heard. I was going out when I
found you here."

"It is good of you," I said vaguely. "Let us go out, then. Take this
weapon."

"I have one," said she quickly.

I nodded. "Brave girl!" said I gravely. "Brave heart, as brave as
beautiful!" I felt vaguely I was paying her a necessary compliment, but
that was all. Yet the corridor was clearing before me now, and the
light of dawn was filtering through the curtained windows.

Princess Alix had turned to the door which gave on the deck.

"If they have won," she said suddenly in a low voice, "why have they
not come here?"

I shook my head. "They do not want the saloon. They want other things,"
said I. "They want the strongrooms."

"Then are they----?" she began.

"I cannot tell," said I. "I will go out."

"No," she said imperativ