it,
and passed through, closing the door softly behind him.

Farther forward he could hear the voice of Billings, singing cheerfully
to himself in the galley; and, filtering through the galley hatch and
open deadlights, the voice of Forsythe, uttering angry commands to some
one on deck.

He had no personal design upon Billings, nor at present upon Forsythe,
so he searched the armroom. As Forsythe and Daniels had found, there was
nothing there more formidable than cutlasses, rifles, and torpedo heads;
the pistols had been removed to some other place. So Denman went back
and searched the wardroom, delving into closets and receptacles looking
for arms; but he found none, and sat down on a chair to think. Presently
he arose and tapped on the glazed glass door of the captain's
apartment.

"Florrie," he said, in a half whisper. "Florrie, are you awake?"

There was no answer for a moment; then he saw a shadow move across the
door.

"Florrie," he repeated, "are you awake?"

"Who is this?" came an answering whisper through the door.

"Denman--Billie Denman," he answered. "If you are awake and clothed, let
me in. I have a key, and I want to talk with you."

"All right--yes. Come in. But--I have no key, and the door is locked."

Denman quickly found the key and opened the door. She stood there, with
her face still tied up in cloths, and only her gray eyes showing in the
light from the electric bulbs of the room.

"Florrie," he said, "will you do your part toward helping us out of our
present trouble?"

"I'll do what I can, Billie; but I cannot do much."

"You can do a lot," he responded. "Just get up on deck, with your face
tied up, and walk around. Speak to any man you meet, and go forward to
the bridge. Ask any one you see, any question you like, as to where we
are going, or what is to be done with us--anything at all which will
justify your presence on deck. Just let them see that you are on deck,
and will be on deck again. Will you, Florrie?"

"My face is still very bad, Billie; and the wind cuts like a knife. Why
must I go up among those men?"

"I'll tell you afterward. Go along, Florrie. Just show yourself, and
come down."

"I am in the dark. Why do you not tell me what is ahead? I would rather
stay here and go to bed."

"You can go to bed in ten minutes," said Denman. "But go up first and
show yourself, and come down. I will do the rest."

"Well, Billie, I will. I do not like to, but you seem to have s