ith fresh gurglings, "was an exterior
treatment."

"Don't tell me I've got the chicken-pox or the measles," I protested.

"No." She shook her head emphatically while she enjoyed another
paroxysm. "What you are suffering from is a severe attack . . . "

She paused deliberately, and looked me straight the eyes.

"Of bedbugs," she concluded. And then, all seriousness and practicality,
she went on: "But we'll have that righted in a jiffy. I'll turn the
_Elsinore's_ after-quarters upside down, though I know there are none in
father's room or mine. And though this is my first voyage with Mr. Pike
I know he's too hard-bitten" (here I laughed at her involuntary pun) "an
old sailor not to know that his room is clean. Yours" (I was perturbed
for fear she was going to say that I had brought them on board) "have
most probably drifted in from for'ard. They always have them for'ard.

"And now, Mr. Pathurst, I am going down to attend to your case. You'd
better get your Wada to make up a camping kit for you. The next couple
of nights you'll spend in the cabin or chart-room. And be sure Wada
removes all silver and metallic tarnishable stuff from your rooms.
There's going to be all sorts of fumigating, and tearing out of woodwork,
and rebuilding. Trust me. I know the vermin."

CHAPTER XIV

Such a cleaning up and turning over! For two nights, one in the chart-
room and one on the cabin sofa, I have soaked myself in sleep, and I am
now almost stupid with excess of sleep. The land seems very far away. By
some strange quirk, I have an impression that weeks, or months, have
passed since I left Baltimore on that bitter March morning. And yet it
was March 28, and this is only the first week in April.

I was entirely right in my first estimation of Miss West. She is the
most capable, practically masterful woman I have ever encountered. What
passed between her and Mr. Pike I do not know; but whatever it was, she
was convinced that he was not the erring one. In some strange way, my
two rooms are the only ones which have been invaded by this plague of
vermin. Under Miss West's instructions bunks, drawers, shelves, and all
superficial woodwork have been ripped out. She worked the carpenter from
daylight till dark, and then, after a night of fumigation, two of the
sailors, with turpentine and white lead, put the finishing touches on the
cleansing operations. The carpenter is now busy rebuilding my rooms.
Then wil