Part 4 (2/2)

The least experienced traveler on board knew that the engines had stopped They felt a long lurch to port when the next sea clihted herself and rode on even keel, while the stress and turainst wind and wave passed away into a sustained silence

The half-caste stewards glanced at each other and drew together in whispering groups, but the chief steward, an Englished his rowl of command which sent his subordinates' attention, if not their thoughts, back to their work In the strained hush, the running along the deck of men in heavy sea-boots was painfully audible Water could be heard pouring through the scuppers Stea forth somewhere with vehement bluster These sounds only accentuated the extraordinary truce in the fight of shi+p against sea The _Kansas_ was stricken du,” said Elsie in a low voice

Doctor Christobal nodded carelessly

”A burst steas will happen at tinorance of his hearers The chief steward heard his explanation and looked at hilance

”I suppose we shall lose an hour or so now?” he asked

”Yes, sir It will be all right by the time you have finished dinner”

The meal drew to its close without ineer was the first to rise, but the chief stehispered in his ear; he returned to the table

”Say,” he said calmly, ”we can't quit yet The companion-hatch is closed We must remain here a bit”

”Do you mean that we are battened down?” demanded Isobel, shrilly, and her face lost so of the sort, Miss Baring Anye can't go on deck”

”But--I insist on being told what is the matter”

The Areat deal about mines, and, in a e cannot desert his post to give information to those who are anxious for it

So he replied laconically:

”Guess the captain will tell us all about it after a while, Miss Baring”

”Que diable! I feel like the rat in the trap,” said Count Edouard, suppressed excitelish less fluent

At another tih that cheery company Now, no one smiled They knew too hat he meant to pay heed to the e or sumptuously equipped the trap, the point of view of the rat was new to them

CHAPTER III

WHEREIN THE CAPTAIN REAPPEARS

The fierce hissing of the continuous escape of steam excited alarm in those not accusto panic of aniet that safety-valves are provided, that die that restraint, not freedouise of a new discovery

The ineers, of course, did not share this delusion

”Thereserious thepower like that,” murmured the American to one of his fellow-professionals