the common cause of safety. I am going to
help you in every way I can, and I am going to begin by establishing
myself as cook of this party from now on. Please don't imagine I can't
cook. I attended a French culinary school for two seasons. And now--"
she stepped into the galley and seized Dan by the sleeve, drawing him
gently toward the door--"won't you please go so that I shall have elbow
room--this is such a tiny box of a place. Please!"

Dan hesitated no longer. Seizing his axe he left the galley and went
forward. The mainmast had snapped about six feet below the truck; of
the other two masts nothing was left but the stumps. He chopped away
the wreckage hanging over the bow, including the bowsprit and
foretopmast, and had made good progress in clearing away the forward
deck when Virginia, standing in the doorway of the after cabin, called
him.

"Breakfast, Captain," she cried. "Breakfast is served."

The girl was laughing excitedly as she led the way to the dining-cabin
and seated herself in front of a great, steaming nickel coffee-pot.
Blushing radiantly she pointed to the other chair.

"Sit down, Captain Merrithew." But Dan protested.

"Now, really, Miss Howland," he laughed, "I can just as--"

"Captain," interrupted Virginia, sharply, "don't be a goose. There--"
She began to pour the coffee. "It isn't really much of a breakfast,"
she added; "I shall do much better for luncheon. But, as it is--" she
inclined her head with mock unction as she handed him his cup.

Dan never forgot that breakfast. It was one of those events which
linger in memory, every detail indelibly stamped, long after more
important pictures of the past have lost even a semblance of outline.

Sunlight flowed in through the portholes and rested on the red
tablecloth and the glittering steel cutlery. For a centrepiece she had
a half shattered clay flower-pot containing a geranium plant which she
had picked up from the deck outside the woman's cabin. It was droopy
and generally woebegone, but it served its purpose. In front of Dan
was a heaping dish of toast artistically browned, and a generous glass
jar of marmalade.

And opposite, smiling at him, talking to him as though they had
breakfasted together for a number of years, was the most radiant girl
he had ever looked upon. The simple costume was wonderfully effective.
The white, full throat and the curves of the neck running to the
shoulders were revealed by the low ro