rdinary routine of life, but those more
important circumstances which are not seen, but make up, and help to
weave the skein of each man's destiny. For instance, had a certain
well-known official in the office of the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, who stood upon the platform of Waterloo station, waiting for
the train that was to carry him to the residence of a friend at Woking,
dreamt for an instant that the three gentlemen he nodded so affably to,
and who were standing at the door of a saloon carriage in the same
train, were leaving England next day, in order to cause considerable
trouble to a Power that, at the moment had shown signs of being
friendly, what would his feelings have been? He did not know it,
however; so he seated himself in his comfortable smoking-carriage, lit
a cigar, and read his Sunday paper, quite unconscious of the
circumstances.

It was nearly eight o'clock before they readied Southampton. When they
did they made their way to the harbour, where a steam-launch from the
yacht was awaiting them. The _Lotus Blossom_ herself lay off the Royal
Pier; and when they reached her, Captain Mason received them at the
gangway.

"Well, Mason," said Browne, "is everything ready for the start
to-morrow?"

"Everything is ready, sir," Mason replied. "You have only to say when
you desire to get off, and we'll up anchor."

Browne thought that he would like to get under way at once; but it
could not be. He looked along the snow-white decks and upon the
polished brasswork, and thought of the day that he had left the boat
when she was anchored in the harbour of Merok, to accompany his guests
on their walk to the falls, and of the wonderful things that had
happened since then. Before many weeks had passed over their heads he
hoped that Katherine herself would be standing on these self-same
decks. He pictured the delight he would feel in showing her over his
trim and beautiful vessel, and thought of the long conversations they
would have on deck at night, and of the happiness they would feel when
they were speeding towards safety once more, with the rescued man on
board. What they were to do with her father, when they had got him,
was one thing he wanted to leave to Katherine to decide. He was
awakened from these dreams by Foote, who inquired whether he intended
to allow his guests to remain on deck all night, or whether he was
going to take them below.

"I beg your pardon," said Browne. "It's a