er. I will see to it that you and Mrs. Spofford get into one of the
boats in case we--well, just in case, you know. We will be given ample
warning, Miss Clinton. Things don't look as hopeless as they did last
night." He pointed toward the land. "It looks like heaven, doesn't it?"

Her face clouded. "But only a very few of us may--" she stopped,
shuddering.

"You poor little girl!" he cried brokenly. He steadied himself and went
on: "It wouldn't surprise me in the least if every blessed one of us got
safely ashore."

"You do not believe that, Mr. Percival. I can tell by the look in your
eyes. I want you to promise me one thing. If we have to take to the
boats, you will come with us--"

He drew himself up. "My dear Miss Clinton, there is quite a difference
between being a stowaway on an ocean liner and being one in a lifeboat.
I have no standing on this ship. I have no right in one of her boats. I
am the very last person on board to be considered."

She looked searchingly into his eyes, her own wide with comprehension.
"You mean you will make no effort to leave the ship until every one else
is--"

He checked her with a gesture of his hand. "I may be one of the first to
leave. But I'll not rob any one else of his place in a boat or his space
on one of those rafts. I'll swim for it."

Slowly the land crept down upon the Doraine. The illusion was startling.
The ship seemed to be lying absolutely motionless; it was the land that
approached instead of the other way round. A thin white beach suddenly
emerged from the green background to the left, to the right an ugly mass
of rocks took shape, stretching as far as the eye could reach. Farther
inland rose high, tree covered hills, green as emeralds in the blazing
sunlight. On a sea of turquoise lolled the listless Doraine.

Soundings were taken from time to time. Even the bottom of the ocean was
coming up to meet the Doraine. Its depth appreciably lessened with each
successive measurement. From fifty fathoms it had decreased to ten since
the first line was dropped.

At four o'clock, Captain Trigger ordered a boat lowered and manned by a
picked crew in charge of the Second Engineer. The Doraine was about
five miles off shore at the time, and was drifting with a noticeably
increased speed directly toward the rock-bound coast. He had hoped she
would go aground in the shallow waters off the sandy beach, but there
was now no chance that such a piece of good fortune was in st