an; and she was now breaking down before one of her brother's
employees.

"It can't go on much longer," I said, again gravely. "It will come to
its own conclusion presently."

"Ah, but what conclusion?" she cried. "Who knows! Who knows?"

The sight of her agitation, of that splendid woman nigh to tears,
thrilled me to the marrow with a storm of compassion and something
more. I was carried out of myself.

"God be witness," I cried, "that while I live you shall be safe from
any harm. God be my witness for that."

She uttered a tiny sob and put out her hand impulsively.

"You are good," she said brokenly. "I am a coward to give way. But I
was alone. I have brooded over it all. And Frederic--Thank you, oh,
thank you! To have said so much, perhaps, has helped me. Oh, we shall
all live--live to talk of these days with shudders and thankfulness to
God. You are right to call God to witness. He is our witness now--He
looks down on us both, and He will help us. I will pray to Him this
night, as I have prayed three times a day."

She spoke in a voice full of emotion, and very low and earnest, and her
hand was still in mine. And, as she finished, the two electric lights
in the corridor went out, leaving us in pitch darkness. I felt the
Princess shudder.

"Be brave," I whispered. "Oh, be brave! You have called to God. He will
hear you."

"Yes, yes," she whispered back, and clutched my hand tighter, drawing
nearer me till her furs rested against my breast. "But what is it? What
does it mean?"

"It may mean nothing," I replied, "but it may mean----"

I put my ear to the door, still holding her, and listened. Through the
noises of the sea I could make out other and alien sounds. "They
come... You must go. Can you find your way?"

"Let me stay," she murmured breathlessly.

"No, no; go," I said. "Your place is in your cabin just now. Remember,
I know where it is and I can find you."

"Yes, find me," she panted. "Please find me. See, I--I have this." She
put the butt of a revolver into my hand. "That has been by me since the
first. But come; find me--if--if it is necessary."

I raised her hand to my lips and she melted away. I turned to the door.

"Lane!" I called. "Lane!"

His voice sailed back to me. "What's gone wrong with the lights?"

"They're coming," I said. "Look to your door." And even as I spoke a
bar crashed upon mine from without. In an instant the corridor was full
of noises. The mutineers were upon us,