, that tells of deep soundings.

As they forged ahead, to the steady drum-beat of the engines, the broad
swirl of water, churned into foam by the great propellers at the stern,
marked their path as far back as the eye could reach. The weather was
fitful, and the sky cleared somewhat toward sunset, but its light was
cold, and threatening clouds hung close upon its edge. The treacherous
weather predicted of the bay might be upon them soon, though as yet it
had been "all plain sailing," as the captain observed.

"It's either here, or on the Indian seas," he said laughingly.
"Somewhere, we'll have to take it! It is not often we get through
without a little shaking up, somewhere. 'Twould scarcely be possible
in so long a voyage."

"About how long does it take you?" asked Mr. Lawrence, lazily watching
the line of faint silvery blue, streaking the horizon.

"Oh, I usually make it inside of thirty days, when our stops aren't too
long," returned the captain. "Of course the P. & O. liners, being
mail-carriers, do it in much less time. But they're built for speed,
and make fewer stops. Then, we tramp steamers always give them the
right of way in harbor--hello!"

He rose to his feet, his keen eyes looking off to starboard, while at
the same instant came a cry from the lookout, "Sail to starboard, aft!"

The others, following the captain's gaze, saw something like a faint
smudge growing on the horizon's line against the faintly tinted hue,
and, even as they watched, it deepened to a waving plume.

"Come!" said he, and they followed him to the bridge, where, giving
each a turn at the glass, they watched the plume until a shape was
attached to it, and it grew into a graceful steamship, its funnels
belching black, and its sails gleaming like shadowy shapes of vapor
till they grew near enough to become defined, and materialized by
nearness.

"It's one of the liners now--a P. & O!" cried the captain with some
excitement. "Isn't she a lady, though? Watch her gait! She's as
steady and swift as the stars in their courses. You'll see her colors
soon."

He sang out an order or two, then turned to answer Faith who, with her
eyes fixed on the rapidly nearing steamer, asked dreamily,

"What does P. & O. stand for, papa?"

"Why, don't you know? For goodness' sake, child, what an odd question
for a seaman's daughter to ask!"

"But I surely don't know. I never heard anything but P. & O. and I
never even thought to ask be