men and children!" he was calling out, and there was a rush to
fill it.

"I don't see many children," said a voice.

"Do you ever--in saloon?" retorted another.

Cadogan, recognizing the second voice as Meade's, and seeing that he was
also in the rear of the crowd, stepped over beside him.

The boat was filled, and lowered in jumps and jerks. The passengers
moved to the next boat. Half a dozen ship's men and an officer stood by.

"They're taking enough of the crew along," observed Meade.

"Not much gets by you," commented Cadogan.

"It's my business. I'll have to write a story about this later."

"Women and children!" called the officer.

The boat was filled, except for a space for ship's men and the officer
in charge, who stepped quickly in. This boat went down likewise in jumps
and jerks.

In the next boat two men passengers jumped in at the last moment. The
officer in charge seemed not to see them. The crew said nothing.

"Must have friends at court," muttered Meade. "Though why anybody should
choose the staying out all night, half frozen, in those boats I don't
understand, do you? But look--there's the Major marshalling his
battalions. Old ladies and young, pretty and otherwise--instinctively
gallant, the Major," observed Meade.

"We'll remember your friends in New York, Major!" two of the younger
ones chorussed.

"Be sure you do!" he retorted. "And pay your bet with a box of candy
when you're back aboard in the morning. But take care you keep those
rugs around your feet in the meantime." He waved them smilingly down the
side of the ship, but he was not smiling when he had turned his back to
the ship's side, and made his way into the crowd of passengers.

Cadogan shrank back of Meade. It was Miss Huttle who had stepped into
the light, with Drissler in attendance. And not alone Drissler. She was
fully dressed, with heavy furs in addition. Her smile was not less
frequent, and apparently her tongue no less ready than usual, when she
replied to the sallies of her escorts.

The blocks were knocked away clumsily, the falls overhauled bunglingly
for the next boat. Cadogan ached to jump in and show them how to do it.

"The worst of standing here, Meade"--Major Crupp had taken his position
by the side of the journalist--"is that no matter how matters are
handled, we can no more interfere than if we were children in steerage.
And yet some of us, Cadogan here especially, could help out a lot."

"Why can't y