ispose'."

A rumble close below broke in upon the rhythm of the boat. "What's
that?" demanded Ramsey.

"Oh, dat's on'y de aujience a-stompin' de actohs."

The next moment, a step or two down the stair, with the skylight roof
still in sight as much as hidden tears would let her see it, she stopped
again, to stare anxiously at another trio, coming from the bell to the
captain's room.

"Da'--dat's all right," the white-jacket reassured her. "Dat's dess de
cap'm, wid Mr. Hugh an' a passengeh."

"Kentucky passenger?"

"Yass'm, 'zac'ly; f'om Ca'fawnia; dat's him."

She sprang back to the deck, and the servant went his way down the
stair. Hugh had left his father to proceed on the arm of the Californian
and was approaching. He murmured only a preoccupied greeting and would
have taken the stair, but old Joy motioned eagerly to the girl. She
spoke. He stopped. "Yes, Miss Ramsey?"

"Go on," she said, "we're going that way."

Down on the cabin guards the two paused at the bottom step, the old
woman lingering at the top. "Mr. Hugh," said Ramsey, "mom-a's sending me
for the twins." She drew a breath. "You know about the commodore?"

"Yes, Miss Ramsey."

"And the--the bishop?"

"I know, Miss Ramsey."

"Mr. Hugh, is your father--taken?"

"Yes, Miss Ramsey."

"Where are you going?"

"To bring the first clerk."

"The boat's command doesn't fall to him, does it?"

"It falls to the first mate."

"I don't see why. Who'll it fall to next? You?"

"No, the first clerk."

Double disappointment. "But you; you'll still look after us passengers
and help him, too, won't you?"

"I may."

She knew it! Somehow he was to share with the mate and the clerk the
command of the boat!

"Mr. Hugh"--they moved on, with Joy at a discreet distance--"you're in a
hurry--so am I; but I ought to tell you, though of course it's just
ridiculous for us--for me--to think I've ever helped you or can help you
in any of these things or in anything--I--oh--I can't help you, or play
help you, any more."

Cruel word in a cruel moment. She felt it so and expected him to show
the same feeling. But instead he halted in the lamplight of a passageway
to the cabin and confronted her with the widest, most formidable gaze,
not her father's, she had ever met. He seemed absolutely majestic. It
was very absurd for one so young and--stumpy--to seem majestic, yet
there he stood, truly so. Partly for that reason she could not so much
as smile; but partl