he only time she exhibited
anything in common with the strange fatalism of her brother, of which I
must say something presently. It was the only time I knew that intrepid
girl to fail, and even then she failed with dignity.

Barraclough returned with my bag, and I selected from it what I wanted.
I knew that, beyond bruises and shock, there was little the matter with
me, and for that I must thank the chance that had flung me on the body
of my assailant, and not underneath it. There was need of me at that
crisis, as I felt, and it was no hour for the respectable and judicious
methods of ordinary practice. I had to get myself up to the norm of
physique, and I did so.

"Well," said Lane, who had been attending to Ellison, "they've
appropriated the coker-nut. It wasn't my fault, for the beggars kept me
and the Prince busy at the door, and then, before you could say
'knife,' they were off. A mean, dirty trick's what I call it!"

"Oh, that's in the campaign!" I said. "And what said the Prince?"

"Swore like a private in the line--at least, I took it for swearing,
for it was German. And then we ran as hard as we could split to the
row, but it was too late. There wasn't any one left. All was over save
the shouting."

"Then the Prince is well?" I asked.

"Not a pimple on him, old man," said the efflorescent Lane, "and he's
writing like blue blazes in his cabin."

What was he writing? Was that dull-blue eye eloquent of fate? When he
should be afoot, what did he at his desk? Even as I pondered this
question, a high voice fluted through the corridor and a door opened
with a bang. It was Mademoiselle. She dashed across, a flutter of
skirts and a flurry of agitation, and disappeared into the apartments
occupied by the Prince. Princess Alix stood on the threshold with a
disturbed look upon her face.

"She's gone to raise Cain," said Lane, with a grimace.

"We've got enough Cain already," said I, and walked to the window
opposite. Dawn was now flowing slowly into the sky, and objects stood
out greyly in a grey mist. From the deck a noise broke loudly, and Lane
joined us.

"Another attack," said he. "They're bound to have us now."

I said nothing. Barraclough was listening at the farther end, and I
think Princess Alix had turned her attention from Mademoiselle. I heard
Holgate's voice lifted quite calmly in the racket:

"It's death to two, at all events. So let me know who makes choice.
You, Garrison?"

"Let's finish the