d, but
went with his accustomed docility. Patricia sat upright in indignant
surprise.

"What are you doing?"

"I am about to head the boat for the shore," suiting the action to the
word.

Her eyes blazed. "Did you not hear me say that I wished to proceed to
Rosemead?"

"Yes, madam, I did."

"I order you, sir--"

"And I choose to disobey."

"I shall report you to Colonel Verney."

"As you please, madam."

From the prow, where he had been taking observations, Regulus cried in a
startled voice: "De win 's comin'! De win 's comin' mighty quick!"

Landless thrust the tiller into Patricia's hands. "Keep it there, just
where it is, for your life!" he cried authoritatively, and bounded
forward to where Regulus was already struggling with the sail. They got
it in and lashed to the mast just in time, for, with the shriek of a
thousand demons, the squall whirled itself upon them. In an instant they
were enveloped in a blinding horror of furious wind and rain, glare of
lightning and incessant, ear-splitting thunder. A leaden darkness,
illuminated only by the lightning, settled around them, and the air grew
suddenly cold. Beneath the whip of the wind the Chesapeake woke from
slumber, stirred, and rose in fury. The Bluebird danced dizzily upon
white crests or swooped into black and yawning chasms. Steadying himself
by the thwarts, Landless went back to Patricia, sitting pale and with
clasped hands, but making no sound. Darkeih, with a moan of fear, had
thrown herself down at her mistress' feet, and was hiding her face in
her skirts. Landless took a scarf from among the pile of cushions, and
wrapped it around Patricia. "'Tis a poor protection against wet and
cold," he said, "but it is better than nothing."

"Thank you," she said then, with an effort. "Do you think this squall
will last long?"

"I cannot tell, madam. It is rather a hurricane than a squall. But we
must do the best we can."

As he spoke there came a fresh access of wind with a glare of
intolerable light. The mast bent like a reed, snapped off clear to the
foot and fell inward, the loosened beam striking Regulus upon the head,
and bearing him down with it. The boat careened violently, and half
filled with water. Darkeih screamed, and Patricia sprang to her feet,
but sat down again at Landless' stern command, "Sit still! She will
right in a moment."

He lifted and flung overboard the mass of splintered wood and flapping
cloth, then fell to bailing with