nswered slowly: "I cannot tell you, sir. Except that both you and the
lady might talk about this boat."

"Oh, well," said Denman, "I was speaking for this lady, who doesn't
belong with us. My place is right here."

"Yes, sir," agreed Daniels; "but I am at liberty to say, sir, to you and
the lady, that you'd best look out for Billings. He seems to be goin'
batty. I heard him talking to himself, threatening harm to this lady. I
don't know what he's got against her myself--"

"Tell him," said Denman, sharply, "that if he enters this apartment, or
steps one foot abaft the galley hatch on deck, the parole is broken, and
I'll put a bullet through his head. You might tell that to Jenkins,
too."

Daniels got through the wardroom door before answering: "I'll not do
that, sir. Jenkins might confine him, and leave all the work to me. But
I think Billings needs a licking."

Whether Daniels applied this treatment for the insane to Billings, or
whether Billings, with an equal right to adjudge Daniels insane, had
applied the same treatment to him, could not be determined without
violation of the parole; but when they had finished supper and reached
the deck, sounds of conflict came up from the galley hatch, unheard and
uninterrupted by those forward. It was a series of thumps, oaths,
growlings, and the rattling of pots and pans on the galley floor. Then
there was silence.

"You see," said Denman to Florrie, with mock seriousness, "the baleful
influence of a woman aboard ship! It never fails."

"I can't help it," she said, with a pout and a blush--her blushes were
discernible now, for the last vestige of the scalding had gone--"but I
mean to wear a veil from this on. I had one in my pocket."

"I think that would be wise," answered Denman, gravely. "These men
are--"

"You see, Billie," she interrupted. "I've got a new complexion--brand
new; peaches and cream for the first time in my life, and I'm going to
take care of it."

"That's right," he said, with a laugh. "But I'll wager you won't patent
the process. Live steam is rather severe as a beautifier!"

But she kept her word. After the meager breakfast next morning--which
Daniels served with no explanation of the row--she appeared on deck with
her face hidden, and from then on wore the veil.

There was a new activity among the men--a partial relief from the
all-pervading nervousness and irritability. Gun and torpedo
practice--which brought to drill every man on board exce