skylights. One of these had
been shattered in the gale.

"Doctor!"

I gazed in amazement, and suddenly Holgate's face passed momentarily
over the hole in the glass.

"Doctor, can you spare me ten minutes?"

What in the name of wonder was this? I paused, looked down the corridor
towards Legrand, and reflected. Then I took it in at a guess, and I
resolved to see him.

"Where?" I asked, in a voice so modulated that it did not reach
Legrand.

"Here--the promenade," came back the reply.

I whistled softly, but made no answer. Then I walked away.

"Legrand," said I, "I'm going for a turn. I've got an idea."

"Don't let your idea get you," said he bluffly.

I assured him that I was particular about my personal safety, and with
his assistance the door was opened behind the barricade. For the first
time for two days I found myself on the deck and in the open air.
Hastily glancing about me to make sure that no mutineers were in the
neighbourhood, I walked to the foot of the ladder that gave access to
the promenade-deck above and quickly clambered to the top. At first I
could see no sign of Holgate, and then a head emerged from behind the
raised skylights and he beckoned to me.

"Sit here, doctor," said he. "You'll be safe here. No harm shall come
to you."

He indicated a seat under cover of one of the extra boats which was
swung inside the promenade-deck for use in the event of emergencies,
and he himself set me the example of sitting.

"I suppose you've come armed," he said. I tapped my breast-pocket
significantly.

"So!" said he, smiling. "Well, you're plucky, but you're not a fool;
and I won't forget that little affair downstairs. I'll admit you might
have dusted me right up, if you'd chosen. But you didn't. You had a
clear head and refrained."

"On the contrary," said I, "I've been thinking ever since what a dolt I
was not to shoot."

"You don't shoot the man at the wheel, lad," said he with a grin.

"Oh, you weren't that; you were only the enemy. Why, we struck half an
hour later."

"Yes," he assented. "But we're not down under yet. And you can take
your solemn Alfred that that's where we should be now if you hadn't let
me pass. No, doctor, you spared the rod and saved the ship."

"Well, she's piled up, my good sir," I declared.

"So she is," he admitted. "But she's saved all the same. And I'll let
you into a little secret, doctor. What d'ye suppose my men are busy
about, eh? Why, pumping--pumping