re to keep to the north all the time."

"I wish now that poor Isobel Baring and the others had not left us,"
said Christobal sadly.

Courtenay was about to say something, but checked himself. He was not
blind to the aspect of affairs which Tollemache had summarized so
pithily. It might yet be that those who remained had more to endure.
Then Elsie summoned them to breakfast, which was served on deck, as the
saloon had been temporarily converted into a hospital.

Before sitting down, Courtenay paid a brief visit to Mr. Boyle.
Christobal told him not to allow the wounded man to talk too much,
complete rest for a few hours being essential. But Boyle's pallid face
lit up so brightly when the captain stood by his side that it was hard
not to indulge him to some extent.

"Huh," he said, his gruff voice strong as ever. "Christobal was not
humbugging me when he assured me you were all right. Where are we?"

"In a small bay on the east of Hanover Island. I have not taken any
observations yet, and there is no hurry, old chap. You 'll be out and
about long before we move again."

"Huh. D'ye think so? I know the beggar who knifed me. I 'll take it
out of him when I see him."

"You are better off than he, Boyle. Unless he is here with you, I
guess he is rolling on the floor of the Pacific by this time."

Boyle tried to turn and survey his fellow-sufferers; there was the fire
of battle in his eye. Courtenay restrained him with a laugh.

"A nice thing I am doing," he cried, "permitting you to talk, and
getting you excited. I believe you would punch the scoundrel now if he
were in the next berth. You must lie quiet, old man; doctor's orders;
he says you 're on the royal road if you keep on the easy list for a
day or so."'

Boyle smiled, and closed his eyes.

"I heard the anchors go, and then I knew that all was well. You 're
the luckiest skipper afloat. Huh, the bloomin' _Kansas_ was lost not
once but twenty times."

"Are you in pain, Boyle?" asked Courtenay, placing a gentle hand on his
friend's forehead.

"Not much. More stiff than sore. It was a knock-out blow of its kind.
I can just recall you hauling me out of the scrimmage, and--"

"It will be your turn to do as much for me next time. Try to go to
sleep; we'll have you on deck tomorrow."

Courtenay noticed that there were only four other sufferers in the
saloon: Three were firemen injured by the explosion. He had a pleasant
word for each of t