incommoded."

"We will all do our best," I answered, wondering if he knew how
inadequate a word he had used. Incommoded! Good heavens! Was my
knowledge of Holgate to go for nothing? What would be the end? Was the
man an idealist? He seemed sunk in a dream, and I saw his face soften
as he stared out at the sea. Compassion gushed in my heart. I turned
away.

CHAPTER XIII

THE FOG

My watch ended at ten o'clock, and I went direct to my cabin. I was a
light sleeper, and could depend upon awaking at the slightest sound.
Thus I had no fear that I should be wanting in an emergency, quite
apart from the fact that the steward was stationed at the opening into
the saloon with strict orders.

I suppose it must have been three hours later that I sat up in my bunk
with a consciousness that something was wrong. I listened, but I could
hear no sound, and I rose to my feet, seizing my revolver. Then I
understood. It was precisely that there was no sound, or rather that
sounds had dwindled, that I awoke. The screw had stopped. I opened the
door and went along the passage towards the saloon. Grant was at the
foot of the stairs, and I hailed him.

"No, sir, I don't know, sir," he answered me in respect of my
questions.

Well, one had to find out at any cost, and I ran up the stairs and got
access to the corridor of the state-rooms. Here were gathered the
Prince, Barraclough, Lane, and the quartermaster.

"I believe he's been on the P.S.N.C," Lane was saying as I came up. "He
ought to be able to pull her through."

"The question is, does he want to?" asked Barraclough grimly.

"Good heavens, who wants to lock his ship in these accursed bilboes?"
cried the purser. "It's enough to freeze one's hair stiff. Can you see
anything?"

For answer, Barraclough threw open the door that led upon the deck, and
it was as if a vent had yawned in the night. It was pitch black, and,
what was worse, banks of fog rolled along the thwarts. Lane drew back a
step, and shivered.

"Oh! my uncle!" he exclaimed.

"You do not see any sign of them?" inquired the Prince imperturbably.

Barraclough shook his head. "If they're coming they'll have their work
cut out to find their way," he said.

"Oh, let 'em all come this weather," said Lane agreeably. "'I wish I'd
bought ducks'--I mean fires."

He was shivering continuously and I pushed him back. "Don't be a fool,"
said I. "We want all hands in good form during the next four-and-twenty
hou