w we'll not have much trouble with them in the future.
And only the Good Lord knows what the future is going to bring."

So the three of them argued, two against one. Finally Percival threw up
his hands in a gesture of complete surrender.

"All right, Captain. I give in. Perhaps you are right. I suppose it
would be butchery."

There were a few in the crowd who understood English. These edged
forward eagerly, hopefully. They called out protestations against the
"slaughter."

"Tell them you have reconsidered, Mr. Percival," said the Captain. "They
are to remain on board."

Excited shouts went up from the few who understood, and then the word
went among the others that they were to be spared. There were cries of
relief, joy, gratitude, and not a few fell upon their knees!

Percival stood forth once more. Silence fell upon the throng.

"The Captain has put in a plea for you, and I have decided to grant it.
You may remain on board. Now, listen to me! No one is to leave this
ship until tomorrow morning. We are safe here. We are stuck fast on the
bottom, and nothing can happen to us at present. Tomorrow we will see
what is best to be done. Every man and woman here is to return to the
task he was given by Mr. Mott at the beginning of our troubles. We've
got to eat, and sleep, and--Wait a minute! Well, all right,--beat it, if
you feel that way about it."

He stood watching them as they excitedly withdrew toward the bow of the
ship, breaking up into clattering groups, all of them talking at once.

Captain Trigger laid his hand on the young man's shoulder.

"If it had not been for you, Percival, this deck would now be red
with blood,--and some of us would be dead. You saved a very ticklish
situation. I take off my hat to you, and I say, with a full heart, that
I shall never again doubt your ability to handle men. No one but an
American could have tricked that mob as you did, my lad."

From various points of vantage the foregoing scene had been witnessed by
uneasy, alarmed persons from upper cabins. Overwhelmed and dismayed by
the rush of the yelling mob, the elect had fled for safety, urged by a
greater fear than any that had gone before,--the fear of rioting men.

A few of them, more daring and inquisitive than the rest, had ventured
recklessly into the zone of danger. Among them were Ruth Clinton and
Madame Olga Obosky, who, disregarding the command of Mr. Mott, were the
only women to venture beyond the protecting c