ea."

Daniels, the cook, came on deck and aft to the limits of the hatch,
indicating by his face and manner that he wished to speak to Denman.

Denman arose and approached him.

"Will you and the lady eat breakfast together, sir?" he asked.

"I believe so," answered Denman. Then, turning to Florrie: "How will it
be? May I eat breakfast with you this morning?"

She nodded.

"Then, sir," said Daniels, "I'll have to serve it in the after cabin."

"Why not the wardroom? Why not keep out of Miss Fleming's apartment?"

"Because, Mr. Denman, our work is laid out. Billings attends to the
wardroom, and swears he won't serve this lady, or get within reach of
her."

"Serve it in the after cabin, then," said Denman, turning away to hide
the coming smile, and Daniels departed.

* * * * *

Not caring to agitate the girl with an account of Billings' drunken
overtures and his own vicarious repulse of them, he did not explain to
her Billings' trouble of mind; but he found trouble of his own in
explaining his frequent bursts of laughter while they ate their
breakfast in the cabin. And Florrie found trouble in accepting his
explanations, for they were irrelevant, incompetent, and inane.

After breakfast they went on deck without oilskins, for wind and sea
were going down. There was a dry deck; and above, a sky which, still
gray with the background of storm cloud, yet showed an occasional
glimmer of blue, while to the east the sun shone clear and unobstructed;
but on the whole clean-cut horizon there was not a sign of sail or
smoke.

Eight bells having struck, the watches were changed; but except possibly
a man in the engine room getting up steam--for smoke was pouring out of
the four funnels--no one was at stations. The watch on deck was
scattered about forward; and Forsythe had given way to Jenkins, who,
with his eye fixed to a long telescope, was scanning the horizon from
the bridge.

Denman, for over forty-eight hours without sleep, would have turned in
had not curiosity kept him awake. So he waited until nine o'clock, when
Forsythe, with Munson's help, took morning sights, and later until ten,
when Forsythe handed Jenkins a slip of paper on which presumably he had
jotted the boat's approximate position. Immediately Jenkins rang the
engine bells, and the boat forged ahead.

Denman watched her swing to a starboard wheel; and, when the rolling
gave way to a pitching motion as she met the