, as if
apologizing for the break in her voice. "If I don't get my mind on
something else I shall burst into tears! I'm going forward with the
others."

Merry and Huntington still lingered, hoping that they might catch one
more glimpse of the solitary watcher; but in vain. When the girl turned
toward him Huntington saw that tears glistened in her eyes.

"That is the most pathetic figure I have ever seen!"

Huntington made no answer, but at that moment he became conscious that
he was holding a small hand tightly grasped within his own. Impulsively
he raised it to his lips, then he as suddenly released it.

"To seal our friendship," he explained consciously, "at this crisis in
the life of one who has been the means of bringing us together. I owe
him much for that!"

* * * * *

XXI

* * * * *

The "Arcadian" rested lazily at anchor just outside the harbor,
apparently as willing as other visitors to drift on the tide of peace
and contentment. The coils of smoke, rising straight upward from its
funnels, supplied the only sign of intended departure. The bustle and
activity usually attendant upon a sailing seemed absent, and the boat
lay there like a pleasure-yacht ready to take on board its master's
guests.

This impression deepened as the passengers from the tender were
transferred on board and moved about the spacious decks, visiting their
state-rooms resplendent with inviting brass bedsteads in place of the
discouraging berths, and inspecting the swimming-pool.

"You must be sure of your weather before you indulge yourself there,"
Cosden remarked. "They told us, coming down, of a dignified British
admiral who was tempted to a plunge, but no sooner was he in the pool
than a young cyclone struck the boat, and for twenty minutes he was
thrown forwards and backwards and sideways in spite of the efforts of
the stewards to get him out. As he weighed nearly three hundred pounds
the situation became serious. Finally, when the water was drawn off, he
was dragged upon the stone slabs more dead than alive and held there
until the storm abated, indifferent to the dignity of his person or to
the glory of the British navy."

"That ought to act as an excellent flesh-reducer," Huntington commented.
"Perhaps it would serve in my efforts to alter my lines for speed."

"I don't see that you need it," Edith laughed; "but we'll all be down to
give encourageme