as not surprised to hear that she had fainted.

"'Ere, take 'old," gurgled Coke, who had nearly swallowed the cigar in
his surprise at Iris's unforeseen collapse. "This kind of thing is
more in your line than mine, young feller. Just lay 'er out in the
saloon, an' ax Watts to 'elp. His missus goes orf regular w'en they
bring 'im 'ome paralytic."

Philip took the girl into his arms. To carry her safely down the steep
stairway he was compelled to place her head on his left shoulder and
clasp her tightly round the waist with his left arm. Some loosened
strands of her hair touched his face; he could feel the laboring of her
breast, the wild beating of her heart, and he was exceeding wroth with
that unknown man or woman who had driven this insensible girl to such
straits that she was ready to dare the discomforts and deprivations of
a voyage as a stowaway, rather than be persecuted further.

Iris was laid on a couch in the messroom, and the steward summoned Mr.
Watts. The chief officer came, looking sheepish. It was manifestly a
great relief when he found that the "ghost" was unconscious.

"Oh, that's nothing," he cried, in response to his junior's eager
demand for information as to the treatment best fitted for such
emergencies. "They all drop in a heap like that w'en they're worried.
Fust you takes orf their gloves an' boots, then you undoes their stays
an' rips open their dresses at the necks. One of you rubs their 'ands
an' another their feet, an' you dabs cold water on their foreheads, an'
burn brown paper under their noses. In between whiles you give 'em a
drink, stiff as you can make it. It's dead easy. Them stays are a bit
troublesome if they run to size, but she's thin enough as it is.
Anyhow, I can show you a fine trick for that. Just turn her over till
I cast a lashin' loose with my knife."

Watts was elbowed aside so unceremoniously that his temper gave way.
Hozier lifted Iris's head gently and unfastened the neck-hooks of her
blouse. He began to chafe her cold hands tenderly, and pressed back
the hair from her damp forehead. The "chief," not flattered by his own
reflections, thought fit to sneer at these half measures.

"She's on'y a woman like the rest of 'em," he growled, "even if she
_is_ the owner's niece, an' a good-lookin' gal at that. I s'pose now
you think----"

"I think she will want some fresh air soon, so you had better clear
out," said Philip.

His words were quiet, but he fl