on, who
was still in a storm of sobs. She declared that she was doomed, that
she was betrayed, and in a breath vowed that her Frederic would have
saved her had he been alive. She appealed to us in turn for aid, and
called God to witness that we were cowards and would desert her and
hand her over to death. In a word, she behaved with that hysterical
exhibition of nerves which I had noted in her at the outset of our
hapless voyage. Princess Alix, on the other hand, was still and silent.
She made no attempt to calm her companion, and it was as if she heard
not those weak and selfish wailings. Once her blank gaze fell upon me
as it wandered, and I was alarmed, so tragic were the eyes. I got up,
and put my hand impulsively on her arm.

"Princess," I said in a low voice.

Her lip quivered. She hid her face. I went back to my seat. Who was I
that I should intervene upon that infinite private sorrow? No, the past
was not for me; the future faced me, pressed upon me, staring bleakly
and cruelly upon our condition. Was all over? Had we to remain there,
merely at Holgate's pleasure helpless victims to his will, sheep ready
for the slaughter that he destined for us? I swore in my heart in that
hour that it should not be--not without a struggle. I took God to
witness in my inmost soul that I would die before harm should touch the
Princess. No, all was not lost yet--not so long as we were free to move
and breathe and think intelligently.

But, if anything were to be done, it must be attempted ere Holgate
remembered us again. He had placed the guard upon us, and he would not
turn his thoughts our way again until he had either found what he was
looking for or despaired of finding it. How long would the search go
on? As I resolved the situation in my head, ideas began to assume form
in my quickening brain. In the cabin, under watch and ward, were the
two ladies, Legrand, and myself. Lane and Ellison were elsewhere, if
they had not been killed by the mutineers, as I almost feared. Also,
there was Juliette, Mademoiselle's maid. What had become of her? It was
not death I feared for her. But the mutineers, it was quite certain,
would think of nothing but running to earth the treasure for the
present. The Prince had successfully concealed it, but, of course, the
space on a yacht is limited, and it seemed as if in time the discovery
must be made. How long would it be? But then came in a flash a
disturbing thought. They would abandon their