l or duty, and
when visiting the starboard side, which, abaft the captain's room, was
by common consent given up to the women.

They were all on hand the morning that the invalid officer was carefully
aided from his stateroom to a broad reclining-chair, which was then
borne to a shaded nook beneath the stairway leading to the bridge and
there securely lashed. The doctor and Mr. Ray remained some minutes with
him, and the steward came with a cooling drink. Mrs. Wells, doctor by
courtesy and diploma, arose and asked the surgeon if there were really
nothing the ladies could do--"Mr. Stuyvesant looks so very pale and
weak,"--and the sisterhood strained their ears for the reply, which, as
the surgeon regarded the lady's remark as reflecting upon the results of
his treatment, might well be expected to be somewhat tart.

"Nothing to-day, Mrs.--er--Dr. Wells," said the army man, half vexed,
also, at being detained on way to hospital. "The fever has gone and he
will soon recuperate now, provided he can rest and sleep. It is much
cooler on deck and--if it's only quiet----"

"Oh, he sha'n't be bothered, if that's what you mean," interposed Dr.
Wells with proper spirit. "I'm sure nobody desires to intrude in the
least. I asked for my associates from a sense of duty. Most of them are
capable of fanning or even reading aloud to a patient without danger of
over-exciting him."

"Unquestionably, madam," responded the surgeon affably, "and when such
ministrations are needed I'll let you know. Good-morning." And, lifting
his stiff helmet, the doctor darted down the companion-way.

"Brute!" said the lady doctor. "No wonder that poor boy doesn't get
well. Miss Ray, I marvel that your brother can stand him."

Miss Ray glanced quietly up from her book and smiled. "We have known Dr.
Sturgis many years," she said. "He is brusque, yet very much thought of
in the army."

But at this stage of the colloquy there came interruption most
merciful--for the surgeon. The deep whistle of the steamer sounded three
quick blasts. There was instant rush and scurry on the lower deck. The
cavalry trumpets fore and aft rang out the assembly.

It was the signal for boat-drill, and while the men of certain companies
sprang to ranks and stood in silence at attention awaiting orders, other
detachments rushed to their stations at the life-rafts, and others still
swarmed up the stairways or clambered over the rails, and in less than a
minute every man was at