e things up here?"

"Better. The barometer has risen an inch in less than two hours.
Possibly, nearness to the land has some effect, but wind and sea are
subsiding."

"You surprise me; yet that is nothing. I have had several surprises
to-night. What is the position? Of course, we must hit the South
American continent sooner or later; can you fix an approximate time?"

"We are making about six knots, I fancy. If we are lucky, and avoid any
stray rocks, we should see daylight before we reach the coast. That is
our sole hope. The ship is in a powerful tidal current, and it is
high-water at 5.30 A.M. At a rough estimate, Hanover Island is twenty
knots distant. Now you know all. The outcome is mere guesswork."

"Why did the furnaces blow up?"

"I was cross-examining Joey on that point when you came in. He reserved
his opinion. My own view is that, by accident or design, some explosive
substance found its way into the coal."

"Shem, Ham and Japheth! Explosive substance! Do you mean dynamite, or
gunpowder, or that sort of thing?"

"Something of the kind. That is only a supposition, but when I whispered
it to Walker he agreed."

"Walker! Is he the man who speaks so queerly?"

"If ever you go to Newcastle, don't put it that way. I told him to take
Miss Maxwell to her cabin. Did he do so?"

"Yes. I have not seen her since, so I assume that the bromide, plus the
wine, was effective. Well, I must return to my patients. Can I get you
anything? I am store-keeper, you know."

"No, thanks."

"Nothing to eat, or drink?"

"Nothing. I shall be ready for a square meal when I am able to come
below--not before."

Christobal smiled. Though he was a brave man, he thought such persistent
optimism was out of place. Nevertheless, he could emulate Courtenay's
coolness.

"Let me know when you are ready. I am an excellent cook," he said.

Then the captain of the _Kansas_ resumed his smoking and humming, with
occasional glances at the clock, and the compass, and the barometer. At
two o'clock he felt the ship slipping from under the wheel. The compass
showed that she was heading a couple of points eastward. He helped her,
and telephoned instantly to Walker:

"Go forward and try if you can make out anything. Report to me here."

"Ay, ay, sir," came the reply, and anon Walker appeared.

"It's main thick ahead, sir, but I think we-aw passin' an island to
port," said he.

"I thought so. You had bett