losed the book in a state
more closely approximating to hysterical fright than she had been at
any previous time during that most trying night. The truth was, though
she could not realize it, that her senses were far too alert, her brain
too preoccupied, to permit of such an ordered task as reading. In her
mind's eye, she saw the boats, with their cowering occupants, plunging
and tossing in that frenzied sea. By contrast, she was far better off
on the ship. Yet, were it not for the action of some cowardly Chilean,
she must have gone with Isobel and the others. It was torturing to
think that her fancied security was really more perilous than the more
apparent plight of the storm-tossed boats. No wonder she could not
read, though the words were inspired!

And Joey was becoming restless. He danced backwards and forwards on
the table where he had taken refuge from the invading flood. Indeed,
the dog knew, long before Elsie, that the _Kansas_ was afloat again.
At last she noticed that the water in the cabin was gurgling to and
fro, and, in the same instant, she felt the regular swing of the moving
ship. She was speculating on the outcome of this new condition of
affairs when the door opened and Walker thrust his lantern-jawed face
within. He grinned cheerfully.

"I've come to fetch you to yo' cabin, miss," he announced. "The ship's
under weigh, an', as yo' pwobably winging wet, the captain says you
ought to change yo' clo'es."

Joey followed her out, but deserted her instantly. She saw the reason,
when Walker helped her to reach the bridge companion. Courtenay was in
the chart-house, at the wheel. He gave her a friendly nod as she
passed. Somehow, Elsie felt safe now that the ship was in the
captain's hands again.

CHAPTER VII

UNTIL THE DAWN

Walker was about to take her to the saloon, whence an inner staircase
communicated with the principal staterooms, but she knew that the door
leading to the promenade deck had been left unlocked, so she signaled him
to lead her the speediest way. Speak she could not. Although there was
a perceptible improvement in the weather, Elsie found the wind even
harder to combat than when she traversed the deck with Courtenay. This
apparent contradiction arose from the fact that during their early
dealing with the boats the sailors had cut away the greater part of the
canvas shield rigged to protect passengers from adventurous seas.

Nevertheless, all flustered an