ned on the Princess Alix
with a certain definite avidity of gaze. It was as if some strange
animal had suddenly stiffened at the sight of prey and was watching
greedily. The look repelled me; it struck horror to my marrow. I could
have seized him, shaken his miserable little bones and thrown him into
a weeping, cowardly heap on the floor. But as I looked his gaze came
round to me, and behold! it was only the feeble watery eyes behind the
gold-rimmed spectacles that I saw. With a bow to the Princess I
proceeded on my way to give my report to her brother.

CHAPTER XIV

BARRACLOUGH TAKES A HAND

I did not take Holgate's advice, although I had instinctively made up
my mind that he was sincere in offering it. What reason he had for
expressing kindliness for me--if he had any--I could not say. I
reflected that it might very well be of a piece with his astute plans.
He might seek to serve some purpose by it. I was useful as a doctor
attending to his wounded men, but I knew enough of him to guess that
that alone would not suffice to keep him friendly. There must be
another reason, unless, indeed, it was as he said, and he really had
been captivated by my personal charm! This solution of the problem was
flattering, of course, but I was not disposed to accept it. So deep was
my mistrust of the arch schemer that I racked my brain to find an
explanation for his conduct. This, needless to say, was not conducive
to sleep, and I passed a bad night. It was profoundly still, but
towards dawn the screw began to move again, and I concluded that the
fog had lifted. I got up and looked out of the port, and could discern
dimly the white sheets of the mountains not two furlongs distant. The
_Sea Queen_ began to tramp along at a slow pace at first, but finally,
getting speed, resumed her normal rate of progress. If I knew Holgate
he was still on the bridge, and he would remain there until the danger
was over. If he was an abominable scoundrel, he was indubitably also an
admirable seaman with a sense of duty to his ship.

I fell asleep shortly after that, and when I awoke the sun was full up,
but setting low in the east, glittering upon a field of snowy
pinnacles. I ascended to the state-rooms, and there found Barraclough,
who had just come on duty. He had a cheerful eye, and scanned me
curiously.

"Well, are we going to get through this?" he asked.

"We're going to get out of the Straits, I believe," I answered.

"Ah!" he said