Part 24 (2/2)

”Bad weather coming, sir!” said my mate.

”Do you think so?” I answered, not wis.h.i.+ng my own opinion to get to the ears of Cecile, as she would be frightened enough before morning.

But I stepped aft, and told M. Andre. The brave merchant groaned, and wished he was in bed at Benevent. But wis.h.i.+ng will not take one there.

It was in the small hours. We men were all on deck. We were driving along at a fearful rate under bare poles. The waves were huge mountains. The storm raged with fury. The night was pitchy dark.

Thunder and lightning did not serve to make things more agreeable. Not a seaman on board had ever seen such a night. It was necessary to lash oneself to the vessel to avoid being washed overboard.

Of a sudden there was a terrific cras.h.!.+

The women below shrieked and prayed.

The _chef_ wanted to jump overboard.

M. Andre cried, ”We have struck on a rock! We are lost!”

”Have courage!” I cried. ”Fetch the women on deck. There is not an instant to be lost. The yacht is filling!”

We had come into collision with a large vessel. I could see her lights.

She had just cleared us. A flash of blue lightning showed me the name painted in white letters on her stern.

She was the _Lepante_, of Ma.r.s.eilles.

There was a lull in the storm.

There remained one chance for life--to get on board the vessel. The yacht was filling fast, and in a few minutes would settle down.

Except one or two tried sailors--old comrades of mine--everybody on board was paralysed.

It was for me to act--to choose for all.

The choice was--Death or the _Lepante_.

I chose the _Lepante_.

A Frenchman stays at the post of duty.

As captain, I was responsible for the lives of all on board. I was, therefore, the last to leave the sinking _Zephire_. Cecile was hoisted up the side of the _Lepante_ first. I heard a shriek. In the just-beginning twilight I could see two figures.

A man's and a woman's. I knew them.

Marc had raised Cecile on to the deck of the _Lepante_, and had recognised her, and she him.

The horrors of the storm, of the s.h.i.+pwreck, the prospect of death, were to me as nothing to this meeting.

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