shiver in response
to the exquisite thrill. She drew a deep breath, and leaned a little
closer to him.

"Look up yonder, sweetheart," he whispered. "Do you see the one star in
all the heavens that shines the brightest? It is the only one I see when
I raise my eyes. The big, full star in the Southern Cross. The others
are dim, feeble little things preening themselves in reflected glory.
That great, beautiful star at the foot of the Cross is all that I can
see. It's no use for me to look elsewhere. That star fills my vision.
Its splendour fascinates me."

She waited for him to go on. Her eyes were shining. But the analogy was
complete. She laid her cheek against his and sighed tremulously. After a
moment, they turned their heads and their lips met in a long, passionate
kiss.

"I should be content to stay on this dear little island for ever,
sweetheart," she murmured. "My whole world is here."

He stroked her hair lovingly, and was silent for a long time. Then he
smiled his whimsical smile.

"It's all right for you and me, dear,--but how about the future
President of the United States sleeping up there in his crib?"

She smiled up into his eyes. "It's a nuisance, isn't it?--having to stop
and consider that we are parents as well as lovers."

They rejoined the group on the porch.

"I had a horrible dream last night," said Peter Snipe, getting up and
stretching himself. "That's why I'm staying up so late tonight. I hate
to go to bed."

"What was your dream, Peter?" asked Ruth.

"Do you believe in 'em?"

"Only in day-dreams."

"Well, I dreamed our little old ship was finished and had sailed at last
and for once our wireless plant up there began to get messages from the
sea. I dreamed I was sitting up there with the operator. It was a dark,
stormy night. The wireless began to crackle. He jumped up to see what
was coming. He was getting messages from our own ship, away out there
on the ocean. She was calling for help. 'Sinking fast,--sinking
fast,--sinking fast.' Over and over again,--just those two words.
'Gad,--it was so real, so terribly real, that the first thing I did this
morning was to walk down to see if the boat was still on the stocks. She
was there, a long way from being finished, and--and, by gad, I had hard
work to keep from blubbering, I was so relieved."

"It will take more than a dream to knock that ship to pieces," said
Percival. "When she's ready for the water, there will not be a sturdier
cr