opeller. He added up a stupendous number of sheep
going through a hole in a stone wall. Every so often the sheep faded
away, to be replaced by the fearful countenance of the Mongolian, who
was now perhaps ten miles or more downstream.

After a while the engines were checked, turning at half speed for a
number of revolutions, then ceasing as a bell rang. The only sound was
the soughing gurgle of the water as it lapped along the steel plates,
and the distant drone of the rapids.

He heard the splash of an anchor, accompanied by the rumble and clank
of chains, forward; and a repetition of the sounds aft. Directly under
him, it seemed a loud, prolonged scraping noise took place. The fires
were being drawn.

The sounds could only mean that the _Hankow_ had reached the journey's
end. The trip was over; the _Hankow_ was abreast Ching-Fu. She would
lie in the current for a few days, before facing about and making for
tidewater.

To-day would see the last of Miss Vost, a termination of that
serio-humorous love affair of theirs, which, on the whole, had been one
of his most delightful experiences. He wondered whether or not she
would ask him to kiss her good-bye. He rather hoped she would.

On the other hand, he hoped she would do nothing of the kind. Distance
was lending enchantment to Eileen Lorimer. He was sure this was not
infatuation. She was not the first; he had had affairs; oh, numbers of
them! But they were mere fragments of his adventurous life. They were
milestones, shadowy and vague and very far away now. Dear little
milestones, each of them!

Sometime he would go to Eileen, and get down on his knees before her in
humility, and ask her if she could overlook his systematic and hardened
faults! When would he do this? Frankly, he did not know.

He dozed off, and it seemed only an instant later when he was awakened
by a harsh cry.

The port-hole was still dark. Morning was a long way off.

The cry was repeated, was joined by others, excited and fearful.

Peter sat up in bed, and was instantly thrown back by a sudden lurch.
Next came a dull booming and banging. The stateroom was filled with
the hot, sweet smell of smoking wood, the smell that is caused by the
friction of wood against wood, or wood against steel.

Another pounding and booming. Some one hammered at the door. Peter
tried to turn on the electric light. There was no current. He opened
the door.

Bobbie, shoeless and collarl