"It's a nice day," went on the young pilot.

"Yes, I suppose for dem vot likes der vedder," came the answer. "But,
_ach_----" and then the German murmured something to himself in his
own language.

"I guess he doesn't feel well, or else he doesn't want to talk,"
thought Nat, as he passed on. "Maybe he's a bit seasick, though
there's hardly any motion to-day."

Nat passed on, to attend to some of his duties. When he came back,
about an hour later, the German youth was in the same place, moodily
staring down into the water.

"I wonder what ails him?" thought Nat. "He acts queer. But that's the
way with some Germans, the least little thing makes them moody, and
then, again, they're as jolly as can be. But I suppose we are all
queer, in one way or another."

He was half-tempted to speak to the youth again, as he passed him, but
he did not want to be thought too forward, so he said nothing, nor
did the German appear to notice our hero.

The vessel would arrive at port in about an hour, and would tie up
there for the night. It was just getting dusk, and Nat was going from
place to place on the ship, getting certain records of which he had
charge, in shape for filing at the dock office. Several times he
passed by the German, who stood in the same spot, and in the same
position.

"He certainly is ill," mused Nat. "I guess I'll tell him we have a
doctor aboard. Maybe he doesn't know it."

Nat was about to put his idea into execution, when Mr. Weatherby
called him to perform some duty, and it was half an hour later when
the young pilot made his way back again to where stood the youth in
whom he had begun to feel considerable interest.

"I'll just tell him where to find the doctor," thought the boy, as he
approached the place where the silent figure had been leaning over the
rail. But, to his surprise, the youth was not there.

"He must have gone below," mused Nat. "Probably he feels better."

An instant later he saw a strange sight. In a sheltered corner, formed
by an angle of a deck-house, stood the German youth, and in the dim
light from a lantern Nat saw that he was removing his collar, tie,
coat and vest. He was neatly folding his garments in a pile on the
deck.

"He must be crazy!" thought Nat. "I'll call the captain."

As he watched, the youth finished putting his clothes in order. Then,
with a deliberate step, the German approached the rail, placed his
hand on it, and prepared to leap over.

"Suicide!" w