what,
and at the same instant Charlie--she knew it was he by the flutter of
the ridiculous garb he wore--leapt off the bridge like a hurricane, and
tore past her.

He was gone in a second, almost before she had had time to realise his
flying presence; and the next moment passengers were streaming up on
deck, asking questions, uttering surmises, on the verge of panic, yet
trying to ignore the anxiety that tugged at their resolution.

Molly joined the crowd. She was frightened too, badly frightened; but it
is always better to face fear in company. So at least says human
instinct.

The passengers collected in a restless mass on the upper deck. The
captain was seen going swiftly to the bridge. After a brief word with
him the first-officer came down to them. He was a pleasant,
easy-tempered man, and did not appear in the least dismayed.

"It's all right," he said, raising his voice. "Please don't be alarmed!
There has been a little accident in the engine-room. The captain hopes
you won't let it interfere with your dancing."

He placed himself in the thick of the strangely dressed crowd. His
clean-shaven face was perfectly unconcerned.

"I'll come and join you, if I may," he said. "The captain allows me to
knock off. Will you admit a non-fancy-dresser?"

He led the way below, calling for the orchestra as he went. The
frightened crowd turned and followed as if in this one man who spoke
with the voice of authority protection could be found. But they hung
back from dancing, and after a pause the first-officer seized a banjo
and proceeded to entertain them with comic songs. He kept it up for a
while, and then Mrs. Langdale went nobly to his assistance and sang some
Irish songs. One or two other volunteers presented themselves, and the
evening's entertainment developed into a concert.

The tension relaxed considerably as the time slipped by, but it did not
wholly pass. It was noticed that the doctor was absent.

A reluctance to disperse for the night was very manifestly obvious.

About two hours after the first alarm the great ship thrilled as if in
answer to some monster touch. The languid roll ceased. The engines
started again firmly, regularly, with gradually rising speed. In less
than a minute all was as it had been.

A look of intense relief shot across the first-officer's quiet face.

"That means 'All's well,'" he said, raising his voice a little. "Let us
congratulate ourselves and turn in!"

"There has been