den, choking her sobs with a handkerchief, and the crew
following.

"What did he die of?" she asked in a whisper broken with sobs.

"Chill from the water," whispered the skipper in response.

"I can't see 'im," she whispered. "It's so dark here. Has anybody got a
match? Oh! here's some."

Before anybody could interfere she took a box from a locker, and,
striking one, bent over the motionless George, and gazed at his
tightly-closed eyes and open mouth in silence.

"You'll set the bed alight," said the mate in a low voice, as the end of
the match dropped off.

"It won't hurt 'im," whispered the widow tearfully.

The mate, who had distinctly seen the corpse shift a bit, thought
differently.

"Nothing 'll 'urt 'im _now_" whispered the widow, sniffing as she struck
another match. "Oh! if he could only sit up 'and speak to me."

For a moment the mate, who knew George's temper, thought it highly
probable that he would, as the top of the second match fell between his
shirt and his neck.

"Don't look any more," said the skipper anxiously; "you can't do him any
good."

His visitor handed him the matches, and, for a short time, sobbed in
silence.

"We've done all we could for him," said the skipper at length. "It 'ud
be best for you to go home and lay down a bit."

"You're all very good, I'm sure," whispered the widow, turning away.
"I'll send for him this evening."

They all started, especially the corpse.

"Eh?" said the skipper.

"He was a bad 'usband to me," she continued, still in the same sobbing
whisper, "but I'll 'ave 'im put away decent."

"You'd better let us bury him," said the skipper. "We can do it cheaper
than you can, perhaps?"

"No. I'll send for him this evening," said the lady. "Are they 'is
clothes?"

"The last he ever wore," said the skipper pathetically, pointing to the
heap of clothing. "There's his chest, pore chap, just as he left it."

The bereaved widow bent down, and, raising the lid, shook her head
tearfully as she regarded the contents. Then she gathered up the clothes
under her left arm, and, still sobbing, took his watch, his knife, and
some small change from his chest, while the crew in dumb show inquired
of the deceased, who was regarding her over the edge of the bunk, what
was to be done.

"I suppose there was some money due to him?" she inquired, turning to
the skipper.

"Matter of a few shillings," he stammered.

"I'll take them," she said, holding out her hand.