ctions as you are pleased to give, sir."

"There's a collapsible life-boat there under a tarpaulin. Somebody is
saving that for the finish--for a favored few."

"I believe you, sir."

"Stand by it, and when they launch it jump on."

"But they will have spanners and wrenches, and such weapons, sir."

"They surely will. In the steamer trunk in my room you will find a
magazine pistol."

"Yes, sir. 'K you, sir."

"But you must hurt nobody, mind, except those who try to hurt you."

"I'll promise, sir. An' I'll remember also I 'ave a missus an' three
kiddies in Southampton, sir."

"And don't forget you have them, either."

"No, sir. 'K you, sir. But I never 'andled a magazine one. Any
complications, sir?"

"Not many. You find the trigger, curl your finger around it, put the
muzzle to the man's head who means you harm, and, if he persists, pull
the trigger. It's very simple."

"Quite so, sir."

"Good luck to you. And don't forget--you keep pressing the trigger as
long as you want to keep shooting. And--how old are the kiddies?"

"Five, and three, and the baby, one. A grand little chap, the baby,
sir."

"Is he now? Isn't that fine!" Cadogan drew from his hip-pocket the
wallet with the packet of bills. "Put this in the bank--for the kiddies
and missus."

"It's a hawful kindness to 'em, sir."

"All right. Good luck to you."

"Good luck to you, I s'y, sir." He vanished.

V

From his seat on the transom, Lavis had caught sight of the face of
Cadogan as he read the sheet of paper held up to the air-port. His chin
came down on his chest, remained there a moment, and then he stood up
and slowly went out on deck, by way of the door opposite to that which
Cadogan had taken.

The passengers were gathering thickly on the top deck. There was now no
restriction, ship's people having ceased their supervision, and many
steerage passengers were crowding up to join first and second class on
the higher decks.

"In the last death plunge," mused Lavis, "steerage may go first, if so
be it pleases them."

He made out a couple standing hand in hand like children. He knew them,
the couple from second cabin, and of the faith of the prophets of old.

"For why should I go in der boads, Simon?" the woman was saying. "No,
no, mein husband. Fifty yahres together we hafe been now. Together we
shell go now also."

"Surely God will welcome thee," murmured Lavis, and touched their
clasped hands in passing.

He halted. A yo