n the floating
of the mine. And forthwith Elsie fell from the clouds, and was brought
back, shuddering, to cold reason again. She was sick at heart; she
hated herself for her self-abasement. She must gird her with sackcloth
and mourn; and the fight must be fought now, without parley or
hesitation, unless the sweetness were to go forth from life for ever,
and all things should turn to ashes in her mouth.

So, marshaling the best qualities of her womanhood, she quelled the
turmoil in her breast, forced herself to join the men on the after
deck, and said, when the smiling Spaniard turned to receive her:

"Why am I denied the mild excitement of mine-laying, Dr. Christobal?
Is it that you dread the effect on my nerves of these murderous
preparations?"

"No," he answered, making room for her at the railing by his side. "I
had missed you, of course, but I thought you were resting."

"Resting, indeed! I have been quite busy. Where do they mean to put
the second contrivance?"

"About there," he said, indicating a point on the surface of the bay
eastward of the canoe. His right arm was extended, and he placed his
left hand on her shoulder. Courtenay, hailing Walker, saw the two
leaning over the rails in that attitude. Perhaps one of the two hoped
that Courtenay would see them. Elsie, as part of her punishment, did
not shrink away, though the touch of Christobal's hand made her flesh
creep. But Joey, whose mind was singularly free from complexities,
leaped up at her. He wanted Elsie to tell him what Courtenay was doing
out there, so far away from the ship. She stooped and picked him up.
Christobal had no excuse for a second caress.

"Bark, Joey," she whispered, "bark and call your master. If anything
happens to him, you and I shall never see England again. And I am
longing for home to-day."

CHAPTER XIII

THE FIGHT

Christmas Day arrived, and maintained its kindly repute by finding
affairs on board the _Kansas_ changed for the better. Mr. Boyle was so
far recovered that he could walk; he even took command of two watches
in the twenty-four hours, but was forbidden to exert himself, lest the
wound in his back should reopen. Several injured sailors and firemen
were convalescent; the two most serious cases were out of danger;
Frascuelo, hardy as a weed, dared the risk of using his damaged leg,
and survived, though his progress along the deck was painful.
Nevertheless, on Christmas morning he presente