s, with a smile coming into her troubled face.

"I am so glad," she cried. "You will tell me the truth. My brother has
sent me to see. Are we in great danger?"

"Oh no, I think not," I cried, as I took her hands, and felt as if I had
been neglecting a sister and a sick brother to gratify my desire to
watch some coloured clouds.

"You are not deceiving me?" she cried. "Tell me, is not the danger very
great? Come and tell John."

She hurried me in through the saloon to where her brother was back in
his own cabin, lying upon his mattress, looking terribly weak and ill.
His face brightened though as he saw me, and he too held out his hands.

"Ah, Dale," he said feebly, "I wanted to see you. It is so hard to lie
here without being able to help, and I sent Lena to get news. Tell us
the whole truth. Don't keep anything back."

I told him all I knew, meeting his great sunken eyes frankly enough, and
he seemed relieved.

"Then there is hope?" he said at last.

"Certainly, I think so," I replied. "They are mastering the fire, and
it cannot burst out afresh, for the cargo not burned will be drenched
with water."

"But it may have worked its way through the ship's side," he said, with
a shake of his head. Then, suddenly--"Look here, I want you, if I break
down altogether, and my sister here is left alone, to take my place, and
be as it were her brother. We have both liked you from the first day we
met. Will you promise this?"

"I will when it becomes necessary," I said quietly; "but you are going
to be better."

He shook his head, and Miss Denning gazed at me wildly.

"Oh, come," I cried, "don't look at the black side of things. It was
enough to make you much worse, having to go through all that trouble;
but we've got rid of the mutineers, gone through an explosion and a
fire, and all sorts of other trouble. You'll soon feel better when we
are all straight again."

"That's what I tell him," said Miss Denning eagerly, "but he only shakes
his head at me."

"And he doesn't know so well as I do."

"Had your breakfast, Dale, my lad?" cried Mr Brymer cheerily.
"Good-morning, Miss Denning. Well, Mr Denning, we're winning the
battle."

"Then you will save the ship?" cried Mr Denning.

"Oh yes, I think so now," said Mr Brymer quietly. "Miss Denning, it is
almost an insult to ask you, but if you could find time to help us a
little!"

"Yes," she said eagerly. "What can I do?"

"I would not ask you, b