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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77260 ***
+
+
+
+
+
+
+  In
+  Peril on the Sea
+
+
+  BY
+
+  MONTAGUE T. HAINSSELIN
+
+  AUTHOR OF
+  _"IN THE NORTHERN MISTS," ETC._
+
+
+
+  HODDER AND STOUGHTON
+  LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO
+
+
+
+
+  _THE SAME AUTHOR_
+
+  IN THE NORTHERN MISTS
+  GRAND FLEET DAYS
+  NAVAL INTELLIGENCE
+  THE CURTAIN OF STEEL
+
+
+
+
+_PREFACE_
+
+Having spread myself discursively in four books dealing with the
+naval aspect of many things; _videlicet_ and to wit:
+
+_of Shoes_; especially of Pusser's Crabs, footwear of the British
+Matlow in all climes; of sea-boots, which may be taken up On Loan,
+and with a certain amount of tact and discretion may be attracted
+into the orbit of personal and private gear; and of Uniform Boots,
+plain-fronted and without toe-caps, the mark of the correctly-garbed
+Naval Officer, distinguishing the pukka navy man not seldom from his
+temporary brother who is apt to be known by his Feet of Clay, i.e. a
+pair of Plain-clothes boots with patterns punched in holes all over
+their bows:
+
+_and Ships_; treating of them according to their various classes and
+according to their many kinds of work in the Great War:
+
+_and Sealing-wax_; also of Red Tape, and other such weapons of
+officialdom; how they vex the souls of bluff happy-go-lucky
+sailormen; how they can be parried and evaded by guile and
+experience; and how the command to Give Reasons In Writing must be
+correctly met by the soft answer that turneth away wrath, beginning
+with I Have The Honour To Submit and finishing with the additional
+Honour--(really, it is a wonder that the humble delinquent can bear
+the weight of so many honours!)--of Being Your Obedient Servant:
+
+_of Cabbages_; and other succulent produce of the kitchen garden,
+sent by the very kindest of Committees to the men of the Grand Fleet
+month after month, a welcome change from the official spud.  Also of
+other cabbages, grown by optimistic and energetic and enthusiastic
+Naval Officers in extemporised gardens upon the islands of Flotta and
+Fara:
+
+_and Kings_, and notably of our own most gracious sovereign Liege
+Lord, and his visits to the Fleet where he was welcomed indeed as
+King, but doubly and trebly welcomed as being himself a Navy man.
+
+--_Having_, I say, discoursed of these and similar matters in certain
+volumes which both the general public and the reviewers have received
+with very great kindness--though a friend of mine _did_ say to me,
+"whenever I find that I can't go to sleep I just take up one of your
+books and read a chapter, and then I soon drop off"; and I am left
+guessing to this very day whether or not he meant it as a
+compliment--having, I repeat, written these four books of essays and
+sketches (this sentence is really going to close now) it occurred to
+me that it would be a great relief to myself, if not to my readers,
+if I were to write a story.
+
+A Naval story, of course.  I quite understand that I must confine
+myself to my own sphere and not try to write about people and things
+I didn't know--though I believe there have been story-writers who
+have been known to do such a thing.
+
+Well, it sounds easy enough, to write a Naval story.  But it is the
+very dickens of a job when you actually settle down to do it; and
+I'll tell you why.
+
+First, because most of the fashionable methods of treatment,
+applicable readily enough to shore-going stories, do not fit in at
+all well with a nautical atmosphere.
+
+For example, there is the method which may be described politely as
+the Biological--and impolitely as, well, choose your own word for it,
+please.  Books of this kind generally contain a Triangle and a
+Problem, like Euclid; but with this exception they do not at all
+resemble him.
+
+Even with the worst intentions, however, it would be almost
+impossible to conform to this method, because the Navy is not
+Bisexual: unless you count the Wrens; and these, unfortunately--or is
+it fortunately?--are not allowed to go to sea; and anyhow, the Wrens
+deserve a story all to themselves, and it should be written in
+letters of gold.
+
+Then there is another favourite story-form, in which you are told at
+great length how John Smith, of Yorkshire or the Midlands, cooms doon
+fro' th' hoose to th' works i' th' morning and fares back fro' th'
+works to th' hoose at neet, and does this for twenty-odd years
+without any more exciting incident than taking tea on one occasion
+wi' a neebour; and that's all there is to it.
+
+Here again, the method appears scarcely thrilling enough for a sea
+story, and I'm quite sure you wouldn't really like it.
+
+Or there is that other method, greatly affected by certain writers,
+of describing minutely the hero's daily doings from the moment of his
+birth, through his childhood, youth, adolescence, and early manhood,
+until--until you feel that you really couldn't stick another page of
+him!
+
+That is all very well in its way; but the lives of all naval officers
+are really so very much alike in most details that if I were to
+attempt this sort of writing I might get myself into serious trouble
+with the very senior officers, who would want to know why I had dug
+up their past in this barefaced manner!
+
+And that reminds me; in my last book, "The Curtain of Steel," I took
+particular pains to insist, in the preface, that there were no
+portraits amongst the characters therein depicted; there was, I
+stated only one part-exception to this--I had drawn from life in one
+sole instance; "and that," said I, "was the face of a good man."
+Well in due course I had a letter from one of my late messmates,
+which said, "when we read the preface and saw it stated that there
+was one portrait, the face of a good man, everyone blushed
+self-consciously."  It just shows how hard it is to ram an idea into
+some people, doesn't it?
+
+Anyhow, at the risk of being again disbelieved or misunderstood, I
+beg to repeat the statement in reference to this present book that
+THERE ARE NO PORTRAITS IN IT.
+
+But, to go back to the difficulties of writing a sea story.  The
+second of these is that there is always Captain Marryat to contend
+with.
+
+I mean that this splendid old fellow has set the pace so rapidly that
+any modern weakling who endeavours to follow lamely in his footsteps
+will not be considered to be giving his readers their money's worth
+unless he provides a fight with cannons and cutlasses, or some
+hairbreadth escape, on every other page.
+
+Now, naval warfare up to date has been proved to be somewhat
+monotonously free from stirring incidents.  Marryat would probably
+have used up the whole of this war's sea-fighting in one book, or in
+two at most.  There have been plenty of actions with the enemy, of
+course, and very thrilling ones; but they have been so equally
+distributed amongst the various units of the Navy that it would be an
+impossibility to make a hero participate in a sufficient number to
+enable one to make a whole volume out of him.
+
+So the only thing to do was to take an incident--or rather, in this
+case, to invent one--and with it fill up the two hours' traffic of a
+book.  The incident had of course to be of the real old-fashioned
+cut-and-thrust order; nobody wants analytical and psychological
+character drawing in a naval story.  The play's the thing--and, after
+all, in spite of the people who scorn to introduce into their books
+anything so utterly _démodé_ as a plot, and even sniff at the
+vulgarity of mere incidents, there is something to be said for a yarn
+which does not profess to be anything more than a yarn with no more
+purpose than that of wiling away an idle hour or two.
+
+I like writing prefaces.  I don't know if you like reading them.  Do
+you mind if I go on with this one for a bit?
+
+I know I shall get into hot water about Patrick Sheridan's dialect.
+Once upon a time I wrote a little story in which I made an Irishman
+say:
+
+Begobs; it was, perhaps, a weak thing to do, but really I meant no
+harm.  Well, an Irish correspondent wrote at once to the paper, very
+indignantly, to protest against my putting that expression into the
+mouth of one of his compatriots.  And it appears that something of
+this sort nearly always happens when anyone attempts to reproduce a
+so-called Irish dialect, and especially when he reproduces it very
+badly--as I admit I do.
+
+This is very strange; one may with impunity write in that peculiar
+and well-known Loamshire dialect which is nowhere found but in the
+English novel or on the English stage--and no Englishman ever thinks
+of grumbling; he is, indeed, rather amused, though generally still
+more bored.  But if one dares to make an Irishman say "fwhat" for
+"what," or "whoy" for "why"--well, it is treated as just one more
+injustice to Ireland!
+
+Yet, what can one do?  There are conventions to be observed and these
+are maintained because they are not only conventions but
+conveniences; and just as you have a stage Irishman whom you can
+recognise at once by his knee-breeches, flower-pot hat, and little
+black dudheen, so you have also the book-Irishman who is labelled as
+such by a few unmistakable turns of speech.  It makes no difference
+that the stage-Irishman and the book-Irishman are never seen and
+never have been seen in real life.  Their peculiarities are simply
+labels, like those which the Elizabethans used to stick up on their
+back-cloths to say "This is a castle"; it wasn't in the remotest
+degree like a castle, but everyone knew what was meant.
+
+And, of course, even the most scrupulously careful effort to
+reproduce dialect phonetically in print is bound to be a lamentable
+failure.  Many people will probably be surprised to be told that the
+function of the written or printed word is primarily to record
+_ideas_, and only secondarily--if at all--to record _sounds_.
+Certainly, our own English alphabet, with its ridiculously inadequate
+complement of twenty-six letters, is hopelessly unfitted to do the
+work of a gramophone; the thing would be impossible, really, were the
+alphabet ten times as big.  And that is why the very greatest
+writers, such as Dickens, never seriously attempt to reduce to
+writing every word of their dialect-characters in the exact form
+implied, but content themselves with inserting a dialect-word here
+and there, thus avoiding a form of writing which would be an
+intolerable labour to the reader, while sufficiently indicating that
+the curiosities of speech are to be understood throughout.  It is not
+necessary to place milestones at every yard of the road.
+
+I hope it is not necessary also for me to apologise for this same
+Patrick Sheridan being a thorough Bad Hat.  If you can't employ a
+Villain in a story, what can you do?  It does not necessarily follow
+that the villain is taken as a type of his whole race and nation; and
+in this present case I positively disavow any such intention; so be
+it known to all men by these presents.
+
+Oh yes, there is one thing more.  When I announced, in the sanctity
+of the home circle, my determination to write a story, the Critic on
+the Hearth--the junior one--said, "Well, mind you don't write
+anything about girls and Love; 'cause you can't do it!"
+
+Did you ever hear of such a thing?  Of course, no man could take a
+dare like that; and, besides, what would a naval story be like if it
+didn't contain something about both of these subjects?  A wishy-washy
+affair!  Try and imagine Jack without his Faithful Poll!  The thing
+simply can't be done.  So there just had to be Girls and Love in it.
+But whether I have given satisfaction or not must remain unknown
+until the aforesaid Critic on the Hearth reads the attempt in cold
+print; and then it will be too late to complain.
+
+Naval readers will be certain to note a few inaccuracies in the
+description of a "Court of Iniquity" at the end of the book.
+
+But that is because...
+
+And I am confident that this will be recognised as an adequate
+explanation.
+
+And now, having as I hope disarmed criticism all round beforehand--a
+wise precaution to take, and one which I trust will be justified by
+results--perhaps I had better go ahead with the yarn.
+
+  H.M.S. _Vivid_,
+  1919.
+
+
+
+
+_In Peril on the Sea_
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+It is cold, very cold, up on the bridge of the solitary cruiser.
+
+The chilling mist which has been gathering over the face of the still
+waters all the afternoon now thickens and banks up into a dense white
+fog as the short October evening closes swiftly in.
+
+An anxious time indeed for those on the bridge; a fog is more to be
+dreaded than the heaviest gale.  Not half so dangerous is the sea
+when its lashing waves sweep the ship's decks as when it lies
+treacherously calm, leaden and lifeless, beneath the impenetrable
+shroud of the white sea-mist.
+
+Yet the grim irony of War can make even this axiom suffer a
+sea-change: if any testimony were needed to the stern reality of
+naval life in war time it could be found in this, that even the hated
+sea-fog may have its welcome side.
+
+One danger drives out another.  If the fog blinds the eyes of the
+look-out men, it also blankets the periscope of any lurking hostile
+submarine.
+
+So the _Marathon_ slows down to ten knots: and presently to seven.
+The escorting destroyers, one on either bow, can no longer be seen;
+they can only be heard by the mournful ringing of the fog-bell at one
+minute intervals, the sound coming muffled and diminished across the
+veiled waters.
+
+The navigating bridge, which is the highest platform of a complex
+structure built around the foremast, forms a little world of its own,
+poised between sea and sky and isolated from that other little world
+of the ship far beneath.
+
+The occupants of this island in mid-air are few--to be exact, just
+four men; two bluejacket look-out men, the officer of the watch, and
+the navigator.
+
+Of these, the look-out men have nothing to do just at present, for
+the simple reason that they cannot see even as far as the bows; the
+officer of the watch also finds his position a sinecure, since the
+ship is on a steady course and he has not even an order to call down
+the voice-pipe to the bridge beneath, where the quartermaster stands
+by the side of the able seaman at the wheel.
+
+The navigating officer alone of the four finds something to occupy
+his time.  He is standing at a tiny chart table with a hinged glass
+cover which, when raised, acts as a wind screen.  Here he bends over
+his chart and makes many calculations in silence, as he has in fact
+been doing for the past half-hour.
+
+Stapleton, the officer of the watch, finds the proceedings distinctly
+uninteresting.  He has had no one to speak to and practically nothing
+to do ever since he came on watch.  The cold strikes through his
+thick duffel coat, and even his heavy sea-boots and the woollen
+stockings drawn well up over his knees outside his trousers are a
+poor protection in this raw weather.
+
+Pulling down the wrist of his gauntlet he glances at his watch in the
+fading light, and notes with satisfaction that it is close on six
+o'clock.  In a very few minutes he will be able to leave the bridge
+and go below.
+
+But in reality he does not mind either the cold or the tedium of
+watch-keeping.  He is far too keen for that.  Every line of his tall,
+strong-knit figure and of his somewhat hatchet-like face spells
+keenness.  And if proof of this were wanted, there is the fact that
+there is no need at all for him to be keeping watch; as first
+lieutenant and executive officer of the ship watch-keeping forms no
+part of his regular duties; yet he has undertaken to keep a standing
+first dog, to relieve the other watchkeepers and to keep things in
+this department up to the high-water mark of smartness and efficiency.
+
+That is his way.
+
+Now that his self-imposed task is nearly over he steps forward to the
+navigating officer at the chart table, and says:
+
+"I'm away below in a moment, Navvy.  What about it?  It's beastly
+thick--do you think we ought to give the Owner a call?"
+
+The navigator looks up from his work and peers into the fog-bank.
+"Well, I shouldn't--not yet," he answers.  "The old man is having a
+doss in his sea-cabin--he'll be up all through the night, probably.
+I shall be here for a bit myself, and I'll call him if necessary.
+But I think the fog may lift presently.  It seems to me to be more
+patchy than it was.  Shouldn't be surprised if it were only local,
+and if so we may run out of it before long."
+
+"All right, old man, if you think so."  And with a nod he turns away,
+as Morley, the lieutenant who is to keep the last dog, appears coming
+up the ladder on the very stroke of four bells.  Relieving the bridge
+strictly up to time is a virtue of the _Marathon_, thanks to the
+first lieutenant, who won't countenance any slackness in this
+respect, and sets a good example himself.  With a few rapid words
+technical phrases and seaman's language he "turns over" to Morley;
+and then, relapsing into everyday phraseology, he callously bids that
+young officer "Don't let yourself get over-heated--and beware of
+being led away into idle gossiping by that garrulous navigator."  And
+with a laugh he rattles down the ladder and makes his way to the
+wardroom.
+
+The half dozen officers whom he finds assembled in that very warm and
+cosy room he greets with:
+
+"Phew, what a cheery old fug!" and it certainly is a very different
+atmosphere from that of the navigating bridge.  As for being cheery,
+the blazing fire and the glow of the electric lights beneath their
+shades of yellow silk make the wardroom a very pleasant place indeed.
+
+Stapleton peels off his thick duffel coat and sheds some of his other
+trappings, then flings himself into a comfortable arm-chair near the
+fire and announces to the mess in general that he is not too proud to
+accept a drink from anyone.  As, however, this hint meets with no
+acceptance, he is constrained to summon the waiter himself and to
+make the necessary arrangements.
+
+"What's it like up topside?" queries Dale, the surgeon, looking up
+from the card-table where he is playing bridge with the
+fleet-paymaster, the senior engineer-lieutenant, and one of the
+watchkeepers.
+
+"Pretty thick.  But I think it's beginning to clear a little."
+
+"Well," remarks the engineer-lieutenant.  "I hope so, anyway.  I
+don't much care for crawling along at this speed.  Hallo! what's
+that?"--his attentive ear has caught the sound of a bell in the
+engine-room ringing a quick succession of sharp strokes.  "Slowing
+down again?  What's that for, I wonder?"
+
+He looks puzzled; and with a brief excuse to the others at the card
+table makes off to go below, where he feels he may be wanted.
+
+But the reason for slackening speed is not for long a mystery.  A
+messenger from the bridge, a smart young signalman, enters and
+approaches the recumbent first lieutenant, and presents a signal-pad.
+The first lieutenant takes it carelessly and reads aloud:
+
+"_Floating object, apparently mine, on surface bearing right ahead of
+you_.  Hm, cheerful prospect, isn't it?"
+
+"Who's that from, Number One?" enquires the fleet-paymaster.
+
+"From one of our destroyers.  I suppose we are slowing down to touch
+it off.  Well, it isn't in my line.  Someone else can attend to that
+business, I'm not going to disturb myself for that--all right,
+signalman.  Guns, this seems to be more in your line than mine."
+
+The gunnery-lieutenant who has been, chuckling quietly to himself
+over a novel, has in fact already pricked up his ears at the mention
+of something relating to his own beloved artillery; and elated at the
+prospect of firing one of his guns, if only at a floating mine, he
+flings down his novel and strides off to make for the upper deck.
+
+There is a mild excitement amongst those in the wardroom who have not
+followed him up on deck to watch the proceedings.  Someone remarks
+with contemptuous disgust on the flagrant disregard for the ways of
+civilisation which has prompted the Hun to scatter his floating mines
+broadcast on the ocean in defiance of all international law.  But the
+remark is made with little fervour and scarcely any bitterness--the
+Hun has multiplied his diabolical deeds in so many other undreamt of
+directions that such a trifle as this has long ago ceased to seem a
+thing to be wondered at.
+
+The young watchkeeper at the bridge-table treats the matter
+facetiously.  "Dashed bad luck, I call it," he grumbles; "if only
+those silly signalmen weren't so darned officious, we might have had
+the joss to bump the thing!  A nice little hole in the for'ard
+compartments or a broken stem-piece ought to be good for a couple of
+months in dock, and then we might all of us have wangled a nice drop
+of leave!"
+
+Stapleton rounds upon him in a tone of affected horror, "_What!_ you
+mutinous, unpatriotic, selfish young anarchist!  The _Marathon_ is to
+get blown up just to give you a month's holiday?  Well I'm ... no,
+words fail me!"
+
+He laughs, but there is a certain seriousness in his voice which is
+not all affected.  The very idea of any disaster happening to the
+_Marathon_--except in battle with the enemy, which would be the
+fortune of war and a very different matter altogether--is something
+which he does not care to contemplate.  Not without the envy of half
+the other two-and-a-half stripers of his seniority did he achieve the
+coveted appointment of first lieutenant to the _Marathon_, the very
+latest thing in light cruisers.  Only two sister-ships, the _Salamis_
+and the _Thermopylæ_, were in commission at the time when Stapleton
+was appointed; and there was more competition to go to one of this
+_Greeko_ class, as the Navy affectionately termed them, than there
+was for ships of the most powerful battle-squadron; such was the
+reputation of these marvellous little cruisers, in which speed,
+armament and armour combined to form something nearly approaching a
+naval constructor's dream.
+
+Surgeon Dale looks up presently from the table where he has been
+holding a post-mortem on the last hand in the temporary absence of
+his partner.
+
+"Guns is a long time downing that mine," he remarks; "What's the
+delay, I wonder?"
+
+Stapleton awakens at this remark to the realisation that he has been
+lost in a reverie about his beloved ship, and that the double
+explosion of gun and mine which might reasonably have been expected
+for some minutes past has, as a matter of fact, not been heard at all.
+
+He too looks up wonderingly.  And, as if in answer to his unspoken
+query, the skylight overhead is at that moment lifted and the face
+appears of an excited officer who calls down into the wardroom.
+
+"I say, it isn't a mine at all--it's a boat!  A drifting boat.  With
+people in it.  Shipwrecked.  We're stopping to pick them up!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+There is a rush to look out of the wardroom scuttles, everyone being
+eager with curiosity to see the new and unexpected sight.
+
+At first there is nothing to be seen from the wardroom except the
+unruffled surface of the sea, still veiled in the white mist.
+
+But when the cruiser, gradually losing way, turns to port before
+finally stopping, a boat comes into view on the starboard bow and
+soon is right on the beam, still some little distance away.
+
+Overhead, the sea-boat's crew are already clambering over the netting
+into the cutter swung outboard at the davits, and the falls are
+manned.  Quickly the boat is lowered, and as soon as she touches the
+water her crew have got their oars out and are pulling away rapidly
+in the direction of the derelict boat.
+
+Such a forlorn object it looks, there on the friendless sea, alone
+and helpless.  She is just drifting at the mercy of the wind and the
+current; there is no sail hoisted, and no attempt at getting the oars
+out to pull.  What use, indeed, so far from any shore?
+
+Even at this distance it can be seen that the occupants of the
+drifting boat are but three.  This also explains why they have
+accepted the inevitable and resigned themselves to their fate without
+endeavouring to save themselves.  How could three people hope to pull
+a heavy life-boat?
+
+And what is more--yes, why surely!  Now that one of those at the
+wardroom scuttles gifted with sharper eyes than the rest points out
+the fact the others also are able to see that he has made no
+mistake--two out of the three in the boat are women!
+
+At this discovery the wardroom is cleared at once and everybody makes
+a bee-line for the upper deck.
+
+The first lieutenant has already gone, some time ago.  A mere
+floating mine is none of his business and fails to interest him, but
+a derelict boat with people to be picked up is a very different
+matter.  This is his business, and no sooner is the first
+announcement made than he is away on deck to take charge of things.
+
+From the quarter deck of the cruiser the officers grouped at the
+ship's side all with binoculars or telescopes levelled on the two
+boats see the cutter approach the derelict and take her in tow.  In a
+moment more the boat's crew are pulling swiftly back to the ship.
+
+The first lieutenant gives a brief order, and a couple of hands
+overhaul the gangway falls and lower the ladder to the water's edge.
+When it is made fast he descends and stands on the little platform at
+the bottom, with the surgeon at his side.  The latter has already
+given directions to his staff in the sick bay to have everything in
+readiness that may be required in the way of restoratives for the
+strangers.
+
+The cutter comes near, and deftly casts off the tow at the exact
+moment so as to allow the lifeboat to come alongside the gangway at
+the time when her way has practically stopped.
+
+The first lieutenant is waiting with outstretched hand to fend off
+the boat, and to catch the painter, giving this a swift turn round
+the stanchion of the gangway so as to bring the boat to a complete
+standstill.
+
+Then he jumps in quickly, followed by Dale, and the two of them
+assist the women out of the boat and up to the cruiser's deck.  The
+man of the shipwrecked party requires no help.  Without a word he
+follows in the wake of the others with so erect a figure and so firm
+a stride that it is evident he has suffered no great harm from his
+exposure.
+
+But the two women are in much worse case than he.  They are both
+quite young, young enough almost to be the man's daughters, though
+this is scarcely probable since they are so unlike him--and indeed so
+unlike each other also, one being tall and dark, the other of medium
+height and fair.
+
+The latter, who is the younger of the two girls, is almost in a state
+of collapse, and Dale has to take her into his arms and carry her up
+the gangway.  The dark one merely supports herself on Stapleton's
+arm, and with unsteady steps makes her way to the cruiser's deck.
+
+Here Captain Blake is waiting to receive them, and does so with a few
+kindly words of welcome--a very few, because he is far too sensible
+to spend time in useless talk at such a moment.
+
+"Better take them down to the wardroom, Stapleton," he advises--"that
+is, if you fellows won't mind.  There's no fire in my cabin aft.
+I'll have it lighted though, and they can go there presently.
+Meanwhile, I'm sure you won't object to being the hosts instead of
+myself."
+
+Object to it?  Why the officers of the _Marathon_ cannot do enough
+for their poor guests.  In a moment they have taken complete charge
+of them, and having got them down below are fussing over them in a
+crowd, all eagerly trying to do something that may add to the comfort
+of the unfortunate people.  The young marine officer stokes up the
+fire and piles on coal to make a blazing glow, the fleet-paymaster
+pushes forward armchairs in a half-circle around the stove, the
+engineer-lieutenant and a brace of watchkeepers are bustling round to
+procure food and drink, and have impressed into their service the
+whole body of marine servants and wine stewards.  Another officer has
+dashed off to his cabin and returned with an armful of blankets, and
+yet another, having summoned the wardroom messenger, is loudly
+impressing on that stolid youth an order to go to the galley and tell
+the cook to have lots of hot water ready--though exactly what he
+wants with hot water is not precisely clear.  Hovering around these
+and getting in their way is a little knot of other officers of
+various ranks and ages who are anxious to help but cannot quite make
+up their minds as to the particular capacity in which they can best
+make themselves useful.
+
+The doctor bundles most of them out of the room, telling them in
+terms more candid than polite that they are clucking around like a
+lot of old hens and would they be good enough to run away and play
+somewhere else, as they are only in the way here.
+
+As the doctor is an autocrat under present conditions he gains his
+ends without any demur; but relents to the extent of permitting four
+or five of the more senior officers to remain and give their
+assistance.
+
+Stapleton takes it for granted that he is one of these who are to
+stay.  It is to be feared that he is not actuated simply by an
+altruistic desire to aid suffering humanity; there is more than a
+suspicion that he finds an irresistible attraction in the beautiful
+dark girl--at any rate, he hovers around her with every possible
+offer of assistance rather to the neglect of the other, whom he
+leaves to the tender mercies of Surgeon Dale.  As for the man of the
+shipwrecked party he sits apart, surrounded and ministered to by
+those officers who are a little shy of attending on the ladies.
+
+Possibly their shyness is accentuated by the fact that the attire of
+the said ladies is decidedly scanty.  It is evident that they must
+have been surprised by whatever mischance had befallen them at a time
+when they were asleep in their cabins, for their garments bear
+witness to a hurried departure.
+
+The older of the two girls, the dark one, has simply thrown on a
+heavy wadded silk kimono over her _robe de nuit_, and has thrust her
+dainty feet into a pair of dancing slippers.  The other girl,
+presumably refusing to leave the ship till the last possible
+moment--one can almost hear her companion calling to her and urging
+her to make haste before it is too late--has put on boots and
+stockings and a skirt, with a long fur coat over all; poor enough
+protection, even this, for hours in an open boat!  The man is in
+shirt and trousers, and he also appears to have found time to put on
+his boots without worrying about stockings.
+
+Such is the garb in which the three make their appearance on board
+the _Marathon_; but the blankets collected by the thoughtful young
+lieutenant who went off to ransack his cabin have been called into
+immediate requisition and put to good purpose; and certain other gear
+has been turned out and put to daintier use than that for which it
+was originally meant; who would have dreamt, for instance, that a
+pair of Stapleton's football stockings would ever be graced by such a
+pretty pair of limbs as are encased in them now?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+Captain Blake also remains in the wardroom, and endeavours to put the
+unfortunate people at ease by getting them to talk calmly of their
+misadventure.
+
+At first he is somewhat unsuccessful, the girls, at least, are
+seemingly so frightened and collapsed that they can hardly get beyond
+a few disjointed sentences and much sobbing.  But Captain Blake keeps
+manfully at his task and feigns to take no notice of their whispered
+hesitations.
+
+"That's better," he says cheerfully, as he stirs the fire to a still
+fiercer blaze.  "Poor things, how cold you must be!  How long did you
+say you were adrift in that boat?"  As a matter of fact they had not
+said anything about it, but Captain Blake ignores this detail.
+
+"Since about five o'clock this morning.  Our ship was torpedoed just
+a few minutes before the hour."
+
+The dark girl has suddenly found her voice.  And a beautiful voice it
+is in which she makes this clear sharp statement; a rich, full
+contralto, with just a sweet suspicion of an Irish brogue about it.
+
+Stapleton turns his eyes wonderingly on her as she speaks.  Is it
+possible to fall in love with a voice?  If so, then this is just the
+sort of voice to make such an act excusable.
+
+"Over twelve hours, and in this bitter weather!" exclaims the
+Captain.  "I wonder you are alive!  And was no one saved but you
+three?  But--stupid of me--of course, you can tell us all about that
+later."  Then, turning to the man of the party, who persists in
+remaining apart from the others--"Do pull over your chair, my dear
+sir, you must be----"
+
+"Thank ye, I'm all right," comes the rather ungracious answer.  "Ye
+need not mind me, if ye'll look after the two girls.  It's perished
+with the cold they are.  For myself, I want nothing."
+
+Stapleton bends his head towards Dale and says in an undertone,
+"Seems a surly kind of chap, doesn't he?"  But the doctor does not
+reply: he looks from one to the other of the shipwrecked passengers
+and shakes his head mysteriously.
+
+At this moment there is an opportune interruption, as a small army of
+waiters and stewards file into the room with all manner of
+preparations for refreshing the inner man.  One would think from the
+number of dishes and decanters that there was a whole shipwrecked
+crew waiting to be fed instead of only three people!
+
+However, it is a very welcome sight and there is much bustling about
+to seize the most tempting articles of food and drink and offer them
+to the famished guests.
+
+Dale, knowing well what will be the most useful as a preliminary,
+seizes brandy and hot water, and insists upon his patients taking
+some immediately.  He himself holds the glass to the lips of the
+younger girl, who is by far the most fainting of them all.
+
+"Oh please, please," she stammers, turning her head away, and pushing
+the glass aside, "I--I can't.  Oh, I'm so frightened!  This is a
+terrible business!"
+
+"Come, come, that's all right.  Drink this and you will feel better.
+There's no need to worry over anything now.  It's all over, you know!"
+
+"Oh, but it _isn't_!  I'm--oh dear, oh dear!"  More sobbing.  Dale is
+rather taken aback, but still keeps gently insisting till finally he
+succeeds in making the girl swallow a little of the brandy.  The
+Captain, who cannot stand a woman's tears, murmurs something
+apologetic and altogether unintelligible and makes a bolt from the
+room.
+
+Stapleton meanwhile has had better success with the other girl.
+Confronted with the same tearful hesitation he adopts different
+methods.
+
+"Yes, yes, I know you don't like it, and all that sort of thing," he
+says banteringly, "but just swallow it down like a good child and you
+shall have a bun and an orange and go to the pantomime.  Don't think
+about it--think of something else; good speech that of Lloyd George
+the other day, wasn't it?  Been to any of the new revues lately?
+There--that's done it!  You'll feel quite yourself again presently.
+Pardon my drastic methods, won't you?"
+
+The girl is forced to smile through her tears.  "Oh, thank you, thank
+you, you are very good!  How can you be so kind to us?  Oh, if only
+you----"
+
+"Norah!----"
+
+It is the man who has uttered this sharp cry which rings loud above
+the buzz of talk and the noise of the busy waiters, and creates a
+sudden silence in the room.
+
+Stapleton and Dale turn quickly towards the man.  The surgeon is so
+startled that he drops the glass from his hand, and it shivers upon
+the hard deck with a tinkling crash.
+
+"Ah," says the man, "'tis my nerves are on the stretch!"  Apparently
+he is explaining and apologising for his startled exclamation.  "And
+small wonder!  From seven o'clock this morning in an open boat--an'
+then to see our ship go down before our very eyes!  'Twas a German
+submarine, sir--a deliberate attack without warning!  Would you
+believe, now, that they would do such a dirty trick?  A helpless
+passenger ship, with women and little children on board of her!  And
+never a chance for anyone to get clear of the vessel before they
+attacked her!  Ah, 'twas a cruel deed--foul shame to them!"
+
+"You're right, sir," remarks Dale, briefly, and turns away again,
+content to leave the man to the fleet-paymaster and the
+engineer-commander who are quite capable, he thinks, of looking after
+him.  And, moreover, the young surgeon does not take kindly to the
+man.  There was something a little uncalled for, as it seems, to him,
+in that long-winded tirade following on that cry of "_Norah!_"
+
+What was the meaning of his calling out in that fashion?  After all,
+there was no explanation of it in the rapid stream of words that
+followed.  And--yes, Dale was sure of it--there had certainly been a
+note of _warning_ in the man's voice.
+
+But why?  Well, it was not worth wondering about and the surgeon's
+mind quickly turns to other matters.
+
+As for Stapleton, he is glad to learn in this unexpected way the name
+of the beautiful dark lady in distress.
+
+"Norah," he repeats quickly to himself--"Norah!  And a very pretty
+name, too.  Yes, it suits her; Norah."
+
+The last "Norah" comes from his lips a little louder than he had
+intended in trying the sound of it to himself.  The owner of the name
+catches the sound of it and smiles a little, guessing what is in his
+mind.
+
+"Yes, that is my name," she says, "Norah Sheridan.  I ought to have
+told you before.  And these are my cousins with whom I am travelling,
+Netta and Patrick Sheridan."
+
+"It was a dangerous business crossing the seas at such a time,"
+observes Dale.  "You haven't told us yet where you were coming from?"
+
+"From America," hesitatingly answers the younger girl, noting that
+the question is addressed to her.
+
+"From what part?"
+
+"From--where was it, Norah?"
+
+"From Galveston in Texas.  We were bound for Hull, taking the route
+around the North of Scotland."
+
+"And you were almost safe in port!" exclaims Stapleton.  "That was
+rough luck!  I suppose you were just congratulating yourselves on
+being pretty safe, after having escaped danger for--how many days had
+you been at sea?"
+
+"I don't remember," stammers Netta, and again appeals to her cousin:
+"How many days was it, Norah?"
+
+"Eight.  Our escape was a most miraculous one.  I don't believe there
+were any other survivors.  I saw boat after boat swamped as they
+tried to get clear of the ship!"
+
+A pretty cool young woman this, thinks Surgeon Dale, as he listens to
+her crisp, concise statement.  Certainly she puts things in a very
+matter of fact way!
+
+On Stapleton, however, the effect of the girl's words is very
+different.  He is roused to a white rage.
+
+"Those swine, those murdering devils!" he cries, clenching his fists
+and flashing fire from his keen blue eyes--"and to think they have
+the insolence to call themselves sailors!  Making war against
+defenceless passenger ships!"
+
+His anger quickly cools, as he continues reflectingly.
+
+"Now, to torpedo a ship like this, a pukka man-of-war, that would
+only be fair game.  If _we_ should happen to get blown to blazes, we
+shouldn't have any cause for----"
+
+With a stifled scream Netta breaks in, "Oh don't--_don't_!
+Horrible--horrible!"
+
+"Shut up, you silly ass," Dale admonishes him.  "Don't you see the
+poor girl has had about as much as she can stand for one day?  Just
+let her stay quiet and rest a while."
+
+"Of course!  What a fool I was!  I _am_ sorry--I ought to have had
+more sense than to upset you like that.  Please forgive me, and just
+remember you are perfectly safe on board the old _Marathon_.  Say
+what you want--everything in the ship is entirely at your disposal,
+and every man of us too!"
+
+"Yes, I know you are," comes the steady reply in Norah's beautiful
+contralto.
+
+"Oh, Norah, how _can_ you?"  In some unexplained manner the simple
+words has had the result of upsetting her tremulous cousin once more,
+for the poor girl breaks again into a fit of uncontrollable sobbing.
+
+"'Poor little girl!" Stapleton murmurs; and feeling that something
+more than the rough touch of a man's sympathy is required to soothe
+those jangled nerves, appeals to her cousin.
+
+"Can't you say something to quiet her?  Tell her it's all right now,
+and there's not the least danger--and if there were, there are four
+hundred good men on board who would gladly give up their lives to
+save yours."  And he adds in a louder tone:
+
+"As for me, if I had a hundred lives they should all be yours, if you
+wanted them!"
+
+The words are not spoken so low but that Norah hears them.  And there
+is no mistaking the fact that they are meant in all seriousness.  Has
+the man fallen in love with her, then?  Is this a case of that
+proverbial gallantry of the typical naval officer--or is it something
+deeper than that?
+
+Be it what it may, the effect upon her is to say the least of it
+unexpected.  She is neither melted into softness at the impassioned
+words, nor on the other hand does she seem offended.  Only she sets
+her lips firmly, and for a moment a look as of a fixed resolve, a
+fierce determination, comes into her eyes.  And she answers never a
+word.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+Captain Blake, driven from the wardroom by a woman's sobbing, has not
+allowed his sentimental nature to interfere with his proper duties.
+Had he been that sort of man he would not have been given command of
+the _Marathon_ at the age of forty-two.  One of the very smartest and
+most efficient of the junior captains he has made his way up the
+ladder without interest simply by his own abilities, and especially
+by his oft proved readiness to do the right thing in an emergency.
+
+On this particular occasion perhaps no very great genius is required
+to cope with the situation; but he has dealt with it in the quickest
+and most effectual way, as is shown when he presently comes again
+into the wardroom and announces:
+
+"I hope you haven't been thinking that I've neglected you?  But I
+knew that I had left you in good hands and you would be well looked
+after.  Meanwhile, I've been calling up by wireless one of our
+destroyer escort, and I propose to send you back to the shore in her.
+Ah, that's the reply I expect"--as a signalman enters and holds up
+before him a signal pad with a written message on it--"Yes, that's
+all right.  She'll be alongside soon, and we'll have you all quite
+safe on shore before very long."
+
+"We did not expect to get away so soon, sir," says the dour Sheridan.
+Surgeon Dale, who prides himself on being a keen observer, thinks he
+detects a certain note of disappointment in the words.
+
+"Well," says the captain, who also notices something of the same sort
+but interprets it in a different sense, "I'm afraid it is the best I
+can do, under the circumstances.  Naturally, you would prefer to wait
+and be landed at some civilised spot, but we unfortunately are not
+cruising to any such destination.  And I can't let the destroyer be
+away from us too long--she must return again during the night.  But
+you shall be landed at our own base, and you can go south from there
+in a day or two.  Will that suit you, do you think?"
+
+Sheridan has been listening very intently to the captain's words, and
+it is quite noticeable that he tries to control an ill-pleased
+expression.  Though what on earth he can find to be annoyed about in
+such a kind offer is hard to imagine.  Moreover, the same tone of
+chagrin creeps involuntarily into his voice as he replies with brief
+courtesy:
+
+"Thank you, sir; the arrangements will suit us admirably."
+
+Under cover of the captain's presence, and taking advantage of his
+timely monopoly of the conversation, Stapleton has beguiled his lady
+fair into the farthest corner of the wardroom, where a hanging
+curtain makes a little alcove so that they are shut off from the
+others, at least, as far as this is possible in a small cruiser's
+wardroom.
+
+The pretext under which he executes this manœuvre is that he
+wishes to show her a picture of the ship hanging there, and will be
+charmed if she will allow him to send her a copy of it later on as a
+memento of her short visit.  But strangely enough he forgets all
+about this as soon as they are alone together, and apparently finds
+plenty to say to her on some other subject.  For he seats her in a
+cosy wicker chair and, drawing over another for himself bends towards
+her and talks earnestly in an undertone.  Very earnestly indeed.
+
+"And now, sir," continues the captain, "if you feel fit to do so, I
+should be glad if you would come along to my cabin and let me take
+down your report of this distressing affair.  I expect the destroyer
+will be here, ready to take you back, in about twenty minutes."
+
+Stapleton, overhearing him, remarks quietly, "Oh, damn!--that is, I
+beg your pardon, I meant 'oh, bother!'"
+
+"But why do you say that?" asks Norah Sheridan suppressing a smile.
+
+"Because it means that you will have to go away, just as I--oh, dash
+it all--why, I may never see you again!"
+
+"I think that is more than likely."  Again that hard resolute
+expression in the girl's eyes.
+
+"But I--I want to see you again!  Oh, I say, I do wish you hadn't got
+to go so soon!  But, look here, you will let me see you again some
+time, won't you?  Tell me where I can come and see you."
+
+"But how can you want that?  Barely half an hour ago you did not even
+know of my existence!"
+
+"That does not matter at all.  The main thing is that I do know of it
+now.  Think, how strange it is, your coming here in such a fashion!
+Can't you see that there is something greater than ourselves in all
+this?  Don't you believe it is Destiny that is leading you--and me?"
+
+"Perhaps I do believe it."  Very softly comes this admission.
+
+"Then don't attempt to fight against fate: I tell you we must meet
+again."
+
+"I do not think that you will ever be able to see me, after to-day."
+
+"No, no, don't say that!  I will surely come if you will let me."
+
+"That may be beyond my power--and yours."
+
+"You are right--of course.  I know quite well what you mean.  Though
+we hardly ever give it a thought--or if we do, it is only to jest
+about it; all the same we know very well, all of us, that our country
+may claim our lives at any moment.  Well, so be it!  But, putting
+aside that chance, will you not let me see you again?"
+
+"Do you really mean that you would come?"
+
+"Mean it?  Why, I would--oh, I know what it is; you are thinking that
+I am just an impulsive fool, the sort of impressionable idiot who
+loses his head over every pretty girl he sees and says all manner of
+things without meaning them.  Well, I'm not surprised if you do think
+so.  I've no right to expect anything else.  But all the same I do
+not happen to be that kind of man."
+
+"Did I say that I thought that of you?"
+
+"No, but you looked it!  Well, I don't wonder.  Any girl would, I
+suppose.  Or else you probably think I have gone mad to talk like
+this to you.  Perhaps I have; but nevertheless, I ask you again, only
+tell me where I may find you, and if I live I will come to you."
+
+"But you don't know who I am!  You don't know what I am!"
+
+"I know enough.  Listen!  It is quite true that up to less than an
+hour ago I never knew you, had never even seen you.  But very great
+things can happen in a little time, can't they?  And it is a great
+thing that has happened to me.  I never thought to fall in
+love--certainly not to fall a victim to love at first sight like a
+moonstruck boy.  I meant to live for the Service, and that was my
+only ambition: women never entered into my life.  But now, this thing
+has come to me, and my only hope lies in telling you openly, in these
+few minutes that are left to us."
+
+"Do you mean," says the girl, speaking very slowly and with a quite
+unaccountable look of something very like horror in her dilated eyes,
+"do you mean to tell me seriously that you have actually fallen in
+love with me?  Is this what you are telling me?"
+
+"It is.  That, and nothing less.  I can't blame you if you think I
+have gone suddenly out of my senses, as I daresay you do.  Oh, I
+know--I always used to think myself, like most people, I suppose,
+that love at first sight was nothing more than the sort of romantic
+nonsense one reads about in books, and never happened in real life.
+Well, I daresay it doesn't occur very often; but just once in a while
+it must happen or else people would never have thought about such a
+thing.  And now I have proved it is true.  As soon as I saw you
+standing here in the light of this room I knew that there never would
+be any other woman in the world for me but you, and--I loved you!"
+
+"But why--oh, why?"
+
+"How can I tell?  These things are beyond the powers of reason.  If
+you want me to analyse my feelings, I know that I saw truth and
+honour and goodness gleaming like a halo around you--but this does
+not explain it at all, really.  It is only that I love you
+because--because I love you!"
+
+"But--it is impossible!"
+
+"No, not impossible.  It is true.  Norah, look me in the face, and
+you will see that I am in earnest.  Ah! give me your hands--no, you
+shall not deny me!  Yes, you see now--you know now.  And _I_ know
+that if those eyes of yours do not shine for me, then I shall be for
+ever in the darkness!"
+
+A low wail, as of a creature in agony, rises from the girl's lips, as
+she passionately tears her hands from his grasp and in a moaning
+voice echoes his words:
+
+"_For ever in the darkness!_  Oh, my God!"
+
+"Number One, are you there?  Where are you?"
+
+Confound the fellow!  Stapleton recognises the voice of
+assistant-paymaster Merritt; and hears also Dale telling him:
+
+"He's in there, behind the curtain."
+
+Stapleton had always rather liked Merritt up to the present.  But at
+this moment he hates him, with a fierce and bitter hatred.  A feeling
+which only grows more intense when that youth drags aside the curtain
+and says "Oh, sorry!" with a silly grin that closes again like an
+elastic band, though not without an evident effort; adding in an
+attempt at an official voice:
+
+"The captain has sent me to say that he wishes you to bring Miss
+Norah Sheridan to his cabin so that he may complete his report; he is
+afraid Miss Netta is not well enough, so he will not disturb her."
+
+"Oh, confound the captain!  But where duty calls I must obey, and all
+that sort of thing.  Miss Sheridan, may I show you the way?"
+
+They find the wardroom empty as they go towards the door, excepting
+for the presence of Dale and Netta Sheridan, who are sitting very
+quietly.  The surgeon is keeping an eye on his charge, but is not
+bothering her with too much talk; she is far from having recovered
+her strength.  The other officers have quietly vanished, being of the
+opinion that now Sheridan has been called away by the captain they
+can be of very little use, and that to use a vulgar expression, their
+room is worth more than their company.
+
+So, inwardly fuming at his ill-luck in being interrupted at such an
+inopportune moment, Stapleton leads the way to the captain's cabin.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+But no sooner has the door closed on the retreating pair than Netta
+Sheridan, reclining languid and half-dozed on the settee, astonishes
+the surgeon and Merritt by suddenly springing to her feet and
+exclaiming:
+
+"Oh, save her!  Save us!"
+
+Merritt, fatuous youth, once more executes his india-rubber grin,
+subsiding instantaneously again into seriousness, and murmurs
+faintly, "Gosh!"
+
+"Oh, help me!" cries the girl again--"listen to me--I must speak!"
+
+"Buck up--I mean pray don't be alarmed," exhorts the
+assistant-paymaster with a well-meaning effort to say the right
+thing; "you're quite all right, you know.  It's all over now, you're
+perfectly safe!"
+
+"Don't speak to her like that," Dale admonishes him, with a nudge of
+his elbow, "you're only frightening her.  Miss Sheridan, there is
+really no cause for you to disturb yourself.  Your cousin has only
+gone with your brother into the captain's cabin to tell him about
+what has occurred.  She will be back in a few minutes.  Please sit
+down again and rest."
+
+"Oh, you don't understand--you won't understand!  Listen, I beg you
+listen to me.  I cannot bear it any longer.  I thought I should be
+able to do it, but I can't, oh, I can't!"
+
+"Why, what is the matter," soothingly questions the doctor.  "What is
+it that you can't do?"
+
+The girl answers him in a quick rush of excited speech:
+
+"It is my brother Patrick who is at the bottom of it all.  Ah, the
+terrible man he is, indeed!  _He_ thought of it, and he _made_ us do
+it.  I was always against it, but what chance had I?  Norah he
+persuaded--but you mustn't blame her.  And, oh, don't tell her I told
+you--and don't let _him_ know it!  I am afraid of him, I always have
+been.  If he tells me to do a thing I have to do it; it has always
+been like that.  I am afraid to go against him.  Oh, stop him
+quickly, before it is too late!"
+
+"Ah," says Merritt, shaking his head wisely.  "that hot brandy!  I
+_knew_ it was too much for her!"
+
+"Dry up, you ass," says Dale; and turning again to the distracted
+girl asks in the tone of one who wishes to humour an unbalanced
+patient:
+
+"But you haven't told us yet what is wrong?"
+
+Surely it is nothing but the delirious ravings of a mind thrown quite
+out of gear by suffering to which the poor girl gives vent.
+
+"We're not shipwrecked people at all, we're only--only pretending.
+We have not been torpedoed--we were not in any steamer to _be_
+torpedoed; we were brought to sea by a motor launch, with the boat
+you found us in towing behind.  We knew to half an hour what time you
+would be passing.  Oh, I always said it was a hateful
+scheme--_wrong_, too!  Is Patrick coming?  Don't let him hear
+me--don't let him know I have been talking to you.  I'm terrified of
+him!"
+
+"What _do_ you mean?" cries the puzzled surgeon.
+
+"Patrick planned it all," goes on the girl, now thoroughly wound up
+and seemingly not noticing the interruption.  "It was his idea
+entirely.  He arranged everything, even to making us dress--as you
+saw us.  It is a plot--a plot to blow up your ship!"
+
+"Christmas!" ejaculates Merritt, his mouth wide open in astonishment.
+
+"But it _is_ so, I tell you," cries the girl, turning round upon the
+incredulous youth.  "You don't know what Patrick is, or how he hates
+the English!  We all do.  _Any_ ship would have done, but we got to
+know about yours, we knew just when you would be sailing.  It is all
+planned out.  Norah is to do it.  she has the bomb, because Patrick
+thought she would have a better chance of putting it somewhere while
+he would be talking with the captain and making up a story about the
+shipwreck.  It is to go off two hours after it is set.  Oh, we knew
+you would find some means of putting us on shore--though Patrick and
+Norah both said they were ready to take their chance of that!  Oh, I
+cannot stand it any longer!  I cannot allow it to be done!  Quickly!
+Patrick is with your captain at this very moment.  Find Norah and
+stop her!"
+
+The torrent of wild words that has fallen from the girl's lips
+suddenly ceases and leaves her exhausted and collapsed.  She reels,
+and would fall fainting but for Dale catching her in his strong arms
+and lowering her gently to the settee.
+
+"Well, I'm blest!" exclaims the assistant paymaster.  "Rum yarn that!
+Why, the poor girl must have gone completely off her rocker!"
+
+"And so would you," Dale remarks, "if you had been shipwrecked and
+tossed about in an open boat all day like she has!  Her nerves are a
+little overstrained, that's all.  She will forget all about this in a
+few days, most likely.  Bear a hand, and we'll carry her into my
+cabin and let her lie down quietly for a while till the destroyer
+comes.  It's too stuffy in here, enough to upset anybody!"
+
+"Yes, it is pretty frowsty.  No wonder, with such a fire blazing.
+And on the top of the hot brandy, too!"  So saying, Merritt helps the
+doctor to support the unconscious girl, and between them they bear
+off their burden to the cooler atmosphere of the surgeon's cabin.
+
+Needless to say, Dale gives no more credence to the poor girl's
+ravings than Merritt.  He knows, from his professional experience,
+how an overstrung imagination can invent the most circumstantial
+story and garnish it with a wealth of petty details to give it an air
+of truth, insomuch that one would be almost inclined to believe it,
+were it not for the fact that the story thus elaborated is usually
+wildly improbable to start with.  Strange indeed are the tricks that
+the mind can play, under the influence of suggestion, even
+auto-suggestion.
+
+Dale can remember, from his own experience, a dozen cases no less
+curious than this.  There is nothing wonderful or unusual about it,
+to his trained mind.  And as he has a practical task in front of him,
+he quickly dismisses all thoughts concerning the vapourings of the
+poor girl's disordered brain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+Having concluded their interview with the captain in his cabin and
+given him a full account of everything connected with their terrible
+misadventure, Patrick Sheridan and his cousin Norah make their way
+back to the wardroom together with Stapleton.  He, poor fellow, has
+been pacing impatiently up and down the flat outside the captain's
+cabin, cooling his heels while the others are inside making their
+report.  His presence there has not been invited, and all his
+ingenuity fails to find a pretext for entering unasked; neither is he
+willing to lose the slender chance of a last few words alone with
+Norah.  And so he remains walking to and fro in the flat, to the
+unspoken wonder of the marine sentry who is not accustomed to see the
+first lieutenant of the ship spending his time in this fashion.
+
+But he has not long to wait.  In a few minutes the captain's door
+opens to let the strangers out; and seeing Stapleton there on the
+spot, Captain Blake is well content to hand them over again to his
+care, excusing himself from attending them on the grounds that he
+must put the written statements in order and lock them away in a safe
+place.  Adding as he bows them out of the room:
+
+"But I shall see you again in a few minutes, before you leave us.
+The destroyer cannot be long now--indeed, she should have been here
+by this time; but I expect this thick weather has delayed her."
+
+Poor Stapleton!  All his attempts to detach Norah from her cousin on
+the way back to the wardroom prove quite unavailing.  Given a little
+longer time he would no doubt find some excuse for doing so; but the
+distance is so short that he is unable to hit upon any plausible
+expedient before the three are once more in the now deserted
+wardroom; and there, of course, any _tête-à-tête_ is now quite out of
+the question.
+
+Despairing of this, though he greatly longs for it, he makes the best
+of a bad job, and like the good fellow he is applies himself
+whole-heartedly to the more prosaic task of ensuring the comfort of
+the wayfarers on their journey to the shore and afterwards.
+
+So, no longer the lover but for the time being the plain practical
+man of sound common sense, he enquires:
+
+"Now, what about money?  Of course, you will need some when you land,
+and it's quite certain you haven't any with you now; better let me
+lend you some to carry on with till you get to your home."
+
+"No, no!" cries the girl vehemently, shrinking back as though the
+offer were positively repugnant to her.  "We cannot take it from you!
+We shall be able to manage somehow!"
+
+And yet the offer is a kindly one, and, in fact, a very obviously
+practical one under the circumstances.  Why, then, should she display
+such a horror of accepting it?
+
+It must be just her sensitiveness, a reluctance to take money from a
+stranger, Stapleton thinks; half inclined to smile at the fierceness
+of the refusal; but recollecting the severe strain to which her
+nerves have been put to-day he readily attributes it to this cause,
+and gently insists:
+
+"Why, you need not mind, surely, taking it from me as a loan?  I am
+not giving it to you, and you can send it back as soon as ever you
+get to your friends again."
+
+But Norah shakes her head, and would refuse for the second time but
+for the fact that she seems unable to find words under the stress of
+her deep emotion.
+
+However, Patrick Sheridan is troubled by no sensitive scruples, and
+effectually puts an end to her vain resistance by the gentle yet firm
+rebuke,
+
+"What nonsense, Norah!  Don't be so foolish; it is a very sensible
+and kind offer, and I shall be very grateful to accept it.  And
+though I shall of course return the money at the earliest possible
+moment, I shall still be in your debt for your great kindness--we all
+of us will be, and that's a fact.  But where's Netta?  I don't see
+her here.  What can have become of her?"
+
+"Yes, where is she?" echoes Norah anxiously.
+
+"I don't know.  Anyhow, she can't be very far away; but she had
+better be ready, the destroyer can't be more than a very few minutes
+now.  Would you like me to go and look for her?"
+
+"Oh yes, _please_ do."
+
+"I'd be greatly obliged if you would, then."  Both the man and the
+girl appear equally desirous, even anxious, judging by the way they
+speak; but somehow or other Stapleton gets the impression that while
+Norah's wish is for Netta's presence, Sheridan on the other hand
+merely wants to get rid of him.
+
+This is no time, however, to analyze motives, and Stapleton merely
+remarks on his way to the door,
+
+"All right.  And I'll get some money at the same time.  I won't be
+more than a couple of minutes."
+
+Hardly has he gone out when a marine sentry enters, and announces the
+message he has been ordered to give:
+
+"First lieutenant, sir?  From the officer of the watch.  The
+destroyer is just coming alongside to take the party ashore."  The
+stolid marine speaks as though it were just a matter of conveying the
+guests at a Spithead wardroom tea-party back to Southsea pier, and
+evidently thinks that sending back from the high seas in a destroyer
+a party of shipwrecked people is no more than part of the ordinary
+routine of the ship.
+
+It is not till he has come to the end of his message that he
+perceives he has delivered it in vain, and with a smart "Beg pardon,
+sir, I thought he was in here," he turns to go.
+
+"No, he's not here," Sheridan informs him, pointing to the other
+door, "he went out that way, only a moment ago."  The sentry thanks
+him, salutes again, and departs in the direction indicated; Sheridan
+following him with his eyes till the door closes, leaving him alone
+with Norah.
+
+Then suddenly he becomes transfigured.  His calmness leaves him, and
+he becomes in an instant a different being, a fierce wild creature
+with whitened face and blazing eyes.  And when he turns to speak to
+the girl at his side his voice comes in a hoarse whisper:
+
+"_Now, Norah, quickly!_  There's no time for you to choose a better
+place.  Bad luck to the captain for getting us out of it so soon--I
+never thought it would be a rush like this!  You will just have to
+put it down here somewhere--anywhere, so long as it is out of sight.
+_Make haste, girl!_"
+
+Who is this girl who stands here with pallid lips and great burning
+eyes, erect and majestic as a priestess of some ancient faith--and
+yet with a shade of fear in her face like a priestess who shrinks at
+the very moment of sacrifice?  Can it be the same Norah Sheridan
+whose sweet dark loveliness only just now won her a knight errant at
+first sight--yes, and more than a knight errant, a lover for life?
+
+And what is this thing she plucks from her bosom with tremulous
+fingers--a wicked looking flat steel box, engraved with numerals and
+fitted with a strong spring lying fiat to its side?
+
+Boldly she drags it from its soft, warm hiding place; and then,
+suddenly, all her boldness vanishes when she sees the accursed thing
+actually before her eyes.  She looks wildly around her, and--and
+hesitates.
+
+"Down there, look, behind that bookcase," the voice of her
+overbearing companion urges her.  "Hurry now!  Set it for two hours;
+you know how.  By that time it will be quite dark, and all that are
+in her will be sent to the bottom for ever!"
+
+Ah, that he should have made choice of these words of all others to
+screw the courage of his accomplice to the sticking-point!  Their
+effect is none other than to awaken an echo of a voice heard but just
+now and forgotten a moment later; a manly voice, but yet a pleading
+one, whose low insistent tones had framed the entreaty.
+
+"_--if those eyes of yours do not shine for me, then I shall be for
+ever in darkness!_"
+
+Yes, indeed, for ever in the darkness; and hers the hand to send him
+there, him and all others in the ship with him!
+
+Sheridan has crept round the long table and stands listening at the
+door, holding the handle so as to delay for a second or two longer,
+if need be, anyone who should enter before the deed is quite
+accomplished.
+
+From that vantage-point he turns an angry face towards the girl who
+still stands nerveless and threatening to fail him just at the
+culminating moment when the hazardous scheme bids fair to result in
+complete success.
+
+So overwrought with passion is he that when he essays to whisper the
+words come from his dry lips more like a hiss.
+
+"Make haste, curse you!  They'll be here before you can do it if you
+don't hurry!  Put it down I tell ye!"
+
+"Ah, no, no!"  A moaning sob mingles with the low-spoken refusal.
+
+Sheridan gasps, at his wits' end for fear the diabolical plan is
+going to fail even now at the very last.
+
+No, not quite at his wits' end.  He has still another card to play:
+and he plays it, quietly, persuasively, with all the consummate art
+he has at his command:
+
+"Ah, then, is it hesitate ye would?  Have you forgotten your own
+father shot down in cold blood in the streets of Dublin by the brutal
+English soldiers?  Murdered, with all his sins upon him!  Have you
+forgotten your mother, the heart of her broken by the cruel deed, and
+she falling dead across his grave the day they buried him?  Can ye
+not hear them crying out to you now?  Take shame to yourself,
+girl--what kind of daughter is it ye are to play the weak fool now
+that the chance of vengeance is in your very hands?"
+
+He has struck the right chord, as well he knew he would.  An
+answering vibration stirs the girl's heart-strings and thrills her to
+her inmost soul.
+
+Once more she becomes the inspired priestess, and steels herself to
+the dread sacrifice; her eyes glow with the flame of revenge, and
+sternly she declares: "I'll do it!  Yes--I will!"
+
+"That's right!  But for the love of heaven make haste--the destroyer
+must be alongside by now, and that young fool of an officer will be
+back with Netta any moment!"
+
+Brought back to memory again!  Just when she thought she had
+succeeded in crushing down and forgetting the thought of him!
+
+"Ah, and he too will die!" she cries, dropping her hands limply to
+her sides.  "No, Patrick, I--I cannot do it!"
+
+"Fool!  Set down the bomb at once, I tell you!  Or if you are afraid,
+give it to me!"
+
+"No, no--it shall not be.  'Tis more than I can do, Pat.  I cannot--I
+will not!"
+
+"Give it to me, I say!  Curse you, give it to me at once--I hear them
+coming for us."
+
+Indeed, he is telling the truth.  Norah can hear them, too.  Yet they
+delay.  Their voices and the sound of their footsteps are plainly
+audible, but something detains them--oh why, why will they not come
+in?
+
+All at once a light breaks over the unhappy girl's face.  No need to
+wait for help--how foolish of her not to have thought of this before!
+Now that her mind is made up, the way of salvation lies open and
+ready before her.
+
+Yes, open and ready, literally.  The open scuttle is but a few feet
+distant from her.  She has but to throw the evil thing that rests in
+her hand out through this porthole, and the vile secret will be
+buried in the sea for ever, with all its dreadful purpose frustrated.
+
+But Patrick is no fool.  He divines instantaneously his cousin's
+purpose, from the expression on her face and the sudden light in her
+eyes.
+
+Now or never is his chance.  He takes it, heedless of the steps now
+at the very threshold.  Leaping across the table he closes with the
+girl and seizes her wrist as her hand is now at the open scuttle.
+
+A moaning cry, and an instant's struggle.  No more is possible.
+Across the room, the door is flung open and the officers come
+trooping in.
+
+"So sorry to have kept you waiting such a long time," surgeon Dale
+apologises.  "The other young lady felt faint, and so we took her
+away from this hot room.  I'm afraid she is still not quite herself
+though ever so much better.  We've taken her on board the destroyer
+and she is lying down there and quite comfortable.  I've seen to it
+all myself."
+
+"Yes, she'll be quite all right, I assure you," adds the first
+lieutenant.  "And now, if you are ready, will you both of you come
+along?"
+
+This then is the explanation of the delay outside the door.  A train
+of unhappy incidents, indeed!  How fate hangs upon the most trifling,
+unimportant things!  The safety of a ship and the lives of all her
+crew to depend on the fainting of an overwrought girl: no wonder they
+speak of the Irony of Fate!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+A high-spirited, deeply sensitive girl, caring nothing for such blows
+and buffetings as life may please to deal her so long as they touch
+herself alone, but very keenly alive to the wrongs and injuries of
+others--especially those near and dear to her.  Such is Norah
+Sheridan, and such has she been from her childhood.
+
+Hers is a poor little life-story; rather sordid, and rather pathetic.
+It is a record of things that might easily have been so different,
+that ought never to have been as they were.  The record of a life
+spent under conditions of topsy-turveydom, under the guidance of a
+wrong-headed charming fool whom no one could ever advise: a man who,
+with a brilliant intellect and immense powers of perception could
+always be counted on to do the wrong thing under all possible
+circumstances.  It is, to say the least of it, a heavy handicap to
+have such a man for a father!
+
+His course of conduct, pursued consistently all through his life,
+speaks the nature of the man.  Daniel Sheridan while still a
+youngster, is offered by a distant English relative a well-paid post
+on a big estate; he refuses and elects instead to pick up the
+scantiest of livings in the shady by-paths of literature--for which
+he has not even a natural aptitude.
+
+In the course of his career he falls under the influence of the
+craziest firebrands of his countrymen, and imbibes a fierce hatred
+against a land which has never done him the slightest harm in the
+world.
+
+After a while he migrates to this same hated land, settles down there
+in the most elegant poverty, and remains there happily for the rest
+of his life!  He even marries an English girl, he is on the best of
+terms with his English neighbours; he makes many close friends
+amongst the English; if he has to leave the country to go to the land
+of his birth he always comes back again with all possible speed and
+with most obvious content.  But, in spite of these things, it must
+always be quite clearly understood that he hates England.  Oh
+yes,--and he writes endless poems on this theme, for now he has
+become--by correspondence--one of the inner set of the Irish
+"Intellectuals," and his own contribution to the new learning takes
+the form of quite brilliantly clever but equally unwarranted poetry,
+which no one will ever read unless it be his fellow Intellectuals;
+and they are for the most part too busy writing their own works of
+burning genius to read those of anyone else.
+
+It is these same pungently clever poems that are the cause of his
+daughter Norah's first enmity against society.  Her first childish
+recollection is that of seeing her father angrily rending the reviews
+which have slated his works or worse still have treated them to a few
+lines of insipid comment, and of hearing him break out into a tirade
+against the dull-witted English who are too jealous or too brainless
+to appreciate works entirely devoted to their abuse.  She sees him
+fling himself out of the house in a passion--and cannot follow him in
+his encounter ten minutes later, with three or four cronies of the
+theoretically hated Sassenach race with whom he discusses
+rose-growing and the pre-Raphaelites with the utmost amiability and
+complete forgetfulness of his financial and literary troubles.  For
+Norah there only remains seared on her brain the memory of her
+father's bitterness.
+
+And the knowledge of his poverty.  That of course, is an ever present
+fact.  How the man manages to live he alone knows--he, and possibly
+that distant English relative whose kindness was not soured by
+Daniel's youthful refusal of his offer of work.
+
+What more natural than that the grinding poverty and the conspiracy
+to throw contempt on the genius of the brilliant Irish poet should
+always be attributed in the girl's mind to the despicable tyranny of
+the English despots?  Her father has stated the fact a thousand times
+in her hearing, and therefore, it must be so.
+
+True, there have been moments when this theory has not appeared to
+fit in altogether with her own reading of the facts of life.  For
+example, it is difficult to reconcile it with the witness of her own
+English mother, who is neither tyrannical, despotic, nor despicable;
+but the sweetest and most adorable mother in the world.
+
+Only once did the puzzling contrast vent itself in an open question:
+and that only after many days of silent heart-burnings:
+
+"Mother darling, _are_ the English all as horrid and hateful as Daddy
+says they are?"
+
+Mother darling finds it hard to reply.  She is somewhat of a
+weakling, though a very dear and good woman; and much as she loves
+her little daughter she is still more devoted, even ridiculously so,
+to her fascinating irresponsible husband whose rodomontades she can
+assess at their true value.  Loyalty to him constrains her to reply
+with a weak compromise:
+
+"Not _all_ of them perhaps, dearest one; but I do not like to hear my
+little girl questioning the truth of what she hears her father say."
+
+Amiable fool!  Or, perhaps it may be kinder to say, fond foolish
+loving heart!  The result is, of course, that Norah grows up from
+childhood to girlhood all aflame with the sense of bitter injustice
+done to her father, and accepts the alleged cause of it without
+further questioning.
+
+Occasionally she takes a trip to Ireland in company with her father.
+And once is left behind with some Irish cousins for six months while
+he returns to his home in England.
+
+This visit has a great and lasting effect on Norah's character.
+Those sentiments which were up till now merely fluid and formless
+become crystallised, assuming a very definite shape--and hardness.
+
+To begin with, she is greatly delighted at being able to have a
+friend of her own sex in the person of her cousin Netta: she has
+never had a girl friend before--indeed no friend of any sort except
+her own parents; seclusion and poverty coupled with pride and
+gentility do not tend much to the promotion of friendships.
+
+So Netta comes into her life almost as a revelation.  Intercourse
+with another girl opens up a vista of happiness hitherto almost
+undreamt of.  What Netta does and what Netta says become in the first
+flush of the newly-formed attachment a perfect model and a true
+gospel.
+
+What Netta says, unfortunately, is often no more than an echo caught
+from the dark sayings of her elder brother Patrick.  There are but
+these two, brother and sister, the former older by some fifteen years
+than Netta.  To the authority due to his greater age, is added the
+weight of a dominating character, sombre and gloomy.
+
+Like his Uncle Daniel, Norah's father, whom he nearly equals in age,
+Patrick Sheridan is a professed hater of England and all things
+English.  But the difference between the two men is just this, that
+whereas in Daniel the professed hatred dissipates itself in an
+effervescence of words, in Patrick it is a living faith, the guiding
+motive of his whole life.  He is misguided, unreasonable, fanatical,
+anything you like; but at least he is sincere and lives for his
+convictions.  He despises the dilettante nationalism of his poetical
+cousin, and only waits for the day to put his professions into
+practice.
+
+In Norah he finds the ground already prepared by the willing though
+shallow tillage effected by Netta's feeble copy of his words and
+sentiments.  Patrick enters the field with all the forcibility of his
+overwhelming character, digs furiously and deeply into the soil,
+breaks it up and turns it over effectively to absorb the air of his
+stormy reasonings, and sows it well with the seeds of his political
+faith.
+
+Norah was ready from the first to give him hero-worship; but the
+effect of the two highly-strung dispositions meeting together is
+something far more tempestuous and forceful than what she was
+prepared for.  She finds herself carried off her feet and swept away
+by the violence of the man's passionate character.
+
+To a certain extent she is repelled by him; his thoughts and words
+are so dark and malignant.  But in spite of this she never for a
+moment hesitates to follow him implicitly in his devious paths.
+Where he leads she must perforce follow.
+
+And always for this reason above all others: that he is continually
+sounding the chord of injustice, tyranny, and oppression, a chord
+which finds an immediate response in her sensitive soul.
+
+Thus is worked out by degrees the result, strange but not
+unintelligible, of a pure and high-minded young girl devoting herself
+to black dishonour for honour's sake, calling evil good and good evil
+from motives which seem to her lofty beyond all others, hypnotised by
+morbid suggestion into a state of mind where the gravest
+inconsistences are possible.  And at last all her whole being is so
+lulled into this dangerous somnabulistic state that only two things
+remain to be made clear, two questions to be answered--will her dark
+dreams take form in action?  And will she ever awake again to her
+true self?  Ah, the awaking is to come, indeed, but too late!  First
+comes the dreadful deed; and it comes as the culmination of a great
+tragedy in Norah's young life.
+
+A tragedy to her; to her father it is a tragedy made ironical by the
+intermingling of farce, consistently with all his career.  Such as
+his life has been, such is his death.
+
+Going over to Ireland on one of his periodical visits, Daniel
+Sheridan has no deeper purpose than that of interviewing a publisher
+who, to his great surprise, has made him quite a favourable offer for
+his latest volume of poems.  Such a thing has never happened to him
+before, and it almost seems as though the tide is turning and setting
+in the direction of prosperity.  The reason is really not far to
+seek.  The cult of Irish letters has lately spread from an
+insignificant circle of literary people to widen out and embrace
+almost the whole of the nation.  A real native Irish poet above the
+class of minor rhymesters is just what the nation has been crying
+aloud for, and in Daniel Sheridan the nation's literary aspirations
+bid fair to be realised.
+
+The poet is almost beside himself with joy at his pleasant prospects.
+Not only does he secure a substantial sum for his present work, but
+he also carries away with him a very handsome offer for his literary
+output of the next two years.  He looks forward to spending his
+remaining days in England with ease and comfort, and sketches many a
+rosy picture of the future.
+
+What he does not quite understand, however, is the extent to which
+the intellectual movement in his native land is intertwined with
+political aspirations.  And subsequently, when carried away by the
+stream of Patrick's wild oratory and the enthusiasm of his other
+intellectual associates he finds himself drawn into the whirlpool of
+a Dublin riot on the larger scale, he is to the last unable to
+discriminate entirely between what is the desire to revive the
+ancient glories of the land of saints and scholars, and what is mere
+hot-headed revolt.
+
+Still in this state of indecision he unfortunately gets in the way of
+a bullet not intended for him, and never knows for what cause he lays
+down his life.
+
+But when he is lowered into his grave by a band of sworn
+patriots--and when his weak and adoring wife, bereft of her pillar of
+life, collapses and dies heart-broken at the very graveside, Norah
+clutches at the hand of her cousin Patrick and looks at him from that
+moment onwards to help her in her sacred quest for justice and
+vengeance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+First the deed, and then the awakening.  And, what a terrible
+awakening!
+
+The destroyer is racing back to the base: for the mist has now
+cleared and high speed is once more possible.
+
+Norah, in the tiny wardroom which has been given up to the three
+passengers, is a prey to the most poignant remorse and anxiety.
+
+She sits with bowed head, her eyes fixed in a steady gaze yet seeing
+nothing; her arms, stretched put limply before her with the clasped
+hands lying in her lap would seem nerveless and lifeless but for the
+perpetual wreathing and untwining of her restless fingers, the
+outward symbol of the working of her tortured brain.
+
+No gentle waking, this, no gradual realisation of the truth by means
+of observations gathered here and there and ideas slowly
+accumulating, such as is granted to many a one whose whole life is
+changed and reversed.  Let this girl's past be condemned as
+pitilessly as you will, yet there must be some pity for the cruel
+shock of this blinding light that has suddenly blazed in upon her
+darkened mind.
+
+Not two hours ago she was a devoted instrument of righteous
+vengeance, vowed to a high task whose awful nature inspired her all
+the more deeply.
+
+Now, she sees very clearly the utter enormity of the thing she had
+planned to do.  She realises the baseness of the deed itself, and the
+full extent of the dreadful consequences of it.  But most of all she
+loathes and despises herself for having ever been so warped and
+twisted mentally as not to have known herself for what she was.
+
+Her self-scourgings are, as with most penitents in the zeal of new
+conversion, laid on with too heavy a hand.  She is to blame, indeed,
+but not so greatly as she now imagines, not so greatly as those who
+have moulded her to their own evil pattern.  The truth was in her
+always, stirring to burst from this false mould--else how has she
+broken free now at the very moment when temptation was at its
+strongest?
+
+Yet she will not spare herself nor accept a single drop of the balm
+of self-pity.  All excuses she thrusts from her, before there is time
+for them to become properly visualised.
+
+"_I did not do it--that at least is true._
+
+"_But I meant to.  Though I had days and weeks to think it over, I
+really meant to do it.  And even at the very last moment, or almost,
+I still clung to my purpose._
+
+"_Yet--after all, I changed my mind._
+
+"_Yes, but why?  Was it because I saw the enormity of the crime I was
+about to commit?_
+
+"_Partly that; but not altogether.  It was through an accident--the
+accident of a man looking at me in the way he did.  And if I was
+hindered merely by an accident, then my real intention remains
+unchanged, and I am as guilty as though the deed were actually done._"
+
+--And so on, in endless self-torment.
+
+Happily for her, she is not allowed to continue without intermission
+in her bitter reflections.  There are two of the destroyer's
+officers, a surgeon-probationer, and a midshipman, who are not on
+duty and are therefore free to attend to the comfort and well-being
+of their guests, a task which they feel it incumbent upon them to
+perform with all the hospitality at their command.
+
+These two seem to think they must lend their presence and the
+consolations of cheerful small-talk as much as possible; and although
+the surgeon-probationer disappears from the little wardroom from time
+to time in order to give an eye to Netta who is lying exhausted in
+the destroyer captain's cabin, he soon darts back again and joins the
+midshipman in a well-meaning attempt at inducing cheerfulness.
+
+It is an uphill task, certainly.  Patrick is even more silent and
+moody here than he was on board the _Marathon_.  He answers in gruff
+monosyllables to such remarks as are addressed to him, and never
+advances a single observation on his own account.
+
+So the two young officers soon give up the attempt in his case, and
+turn all their energies upon Norah.  The more readily since beauty in
+distress is very much more attractive than a surly unprepossessing
+man, and there can be no doubt either of Norah's distress or of her
+beauty.
+
+Patrick therefore, is left to the material consolations of a whisky
+bottle and a soda syphon, which his hosts feel confident must be what
+he needs in a case like this.  And it seems that they are not far
+wrong, for the silent morose man does not decline the proffered
+hospitality, but on the contrary pours out for himself glass after
+glass--and the soda-water disappears a good deal more slowly than the
+whisky.
+
+Against her will, then, Norah is forced to join in conversation; or
+rather to force herself to listen with just sufficient attention to
+enable her to make suitable replies when speech is demanded of her.
+It is a trying ordeal for the unhappy girl; but a merciful one in
+reality, for probably this enforced concentration is just the one
+thing that keeps madness at bay.
+
+Yet all the time she is consumed with a gnawing anxiety.  There is a
+question she would give almost anything to be able to answer:
+
+She herself was providentially foiled in her dread attempt; but--did
+Patrick succeed in bringing it to completion?
+
+When he wrested the bomb from her grasp the moment before the
+_Marathon's_ officers came into the wardroom, _what did he do with
+it?_
+
+She knows he could not have disposed of it in the room itself; for
+they left on the instant, and Patrick preceded her so that she was
+able to keep her eyes on him the whole time.
+
+But afterwards?  When they were out in the less brightly lit
+alleyway?  Or during the few minutes' delay before they actually left
+the ship to go on board the destroyer?
+
+There might have been an opportunity then; or was such opportunity
+impossible on account of the presence of other people and Patrick's
+ignorance of his surroundings?
+
+He could not, surely, have just placed the bomb in any chance spot,
+stooping quickly in an undetected movement amidst the crowd.  That
+would have been to court discovery, almost to a certainty, and
+Patrick would never be so simple as that.
+
+Yet, was it not possible that his quick eyes might have been able to
+spy a hiding-place into which he might slip his hand as he passed,
+behind an arm-rack, under a steam-pipe, or some such likely corner?
+If such a chance offered itself, be sure he must have taken it!
+
+But oh, if only Norah could know for certain!
+
+Instead, the miserable girl has to listen and reply to the kindly
+talk and questionings of her two well-intentioned hosts.  And, worse
+still, out of sheer politeness she has to recount at their eager
+enquiry all the wretched falsehood of the torpedoed steamer.
+
+To the ears of her auditors it is a romantic and exciting tale of
+misadventure, and they press for the story in its entirety.
+
+And Norah tells them.  She is not going to make a confession to these
+two young officers, whatever she may do later.  This, at any rate, is
+not the time nor the place.  And what other course is open to her?
+
+Therefore, with wild abandonment she heaps up the agony of the tale,
+repeating every detail of what has been already told to the
+_Marathon's_ officers, and even adding more.
+
+She feels, rather than sees, the glaring eyes of Patrick fixed upon
+her face as she fires off the rapid narration of their pretended
+sufferings; and somehow this keeps her from giving way to hysterical
+shrieks and laughter as otherwise she would: but the compelling
+glance restrains her.
+
+But at what an effort!  And how thankful she is when, at the end of
+it, her two listeners happen to go out of the room both together for
+the first time, and leave her alone with her cousin!
+
+This is the chance she has been waiting for.  Immediately, with one
+rapid backward glance to make sure the two officers have really gone,
+she strides quickly across to Patrick and grasping him by the
+shoulder as though she would shake the answer out of him, asks in a
+tense, quivering voice:
+
+"Oh, Patrick, _did_ you do it?  Tell me!"
+
+He shrinks from her grasp, and crouches back in his chair, glancing
+upwards and sideways at the girl standing over him.  Hatred gleams
+from his reddened eyes, the hatred of fanaticism made fiercer by the
+unstinted whisky he has been drinking.  It is evident that he deems
+the girl a treacherous renegade, and spurns her with loathing for her
+having deserted the great Cause.
+
+"For why should I tell you anything, wretched girl?" he mutters.
+"You would only use it to betray me!"
+
+"Oh, Patrick, tell me, tell me!"
+
+"Curse you, keep away from me!  I want no speech with you, nor ever
+to set eyes on you again.  No kith or kin are ye of mine from this
+day on!  Leave me alone, I bid ye!"
+
+Nor will he deign to open his lips to say another word.  Norah gives
+a gesture of despair and with drooping head goes back to her place.
+
+She had had her chance, and it has been of no avail.  A repetition of
+it is not to be hoped for, even were there any hopes of its being of
+any use, for the midshipman comes back again and soon his fellow
+officer also joins him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+On board the _Marathon_, as she speeds once more on her lawful
+occasions, fore and aft throughout the ship all tongues are wagging
+on the subject of the evening's occurrences.
+
+As a general rule, life on board a man-of-war at sea passes without
+any incident worthy of remark; and this is true to a great degree in
+war time, just as much as in times of peace.  Anything therefore, so
+out of the common as this timely rescue of shipwrecked people met
+just in the nick of time provides welcome conversational material for
+every officer and man; for naval men are, it is well known, the
+biggest gossips in the world and can give points to any charwoman in
+the art of discussing a bit of news from every imaginable point of
+view.
+
+Dinner has been cleared away, and the topic which has held sole sway
+all through the meal is not yet exhausted.  Stapleton alone has taken
+but little part in the talk; he is remarkably silent, for him--as a
+rule he can find plenty to say for himself.  But, as a matter of
+fact, he has not been listening much to the chattering voices around
+him; his sole thought is, how different the wardroom looks now that
+it no longer holds the presence of his beloved.
+
+For she is his, he thinks.  Surely he is not mistaken in believing
+that Norah really did understand him and was not entirely unmoved by
+his sudden and violent love-making?  When two affinities meet like
+this, it is as though their souls have been wandering through space
+for countless ages in the endeavour to find each other; and when at
+last the encounter takes place, it is inevitable that the truth
+should come home with equal force to both of them.  So, at least,
+thinks Stapleton; and he is convinced that Norah had not at any rate
+looked upon him unkindly.  For the rest, he will make sure of things
+at their next meeting.
+
+But, good heavens!  Why--the thought has not struck him till this
+moment--in spite of all his pressing entreaties.  Norah never told
+him where she might be found!  Something happened--he cannot remember
+exactly what it was--to change the conversation, and she left the
+ship without giving him any clue as to where he may meet her again!
+
+So then, he has lost her.  No--surely he will be able to find out
+something when the ship returns to the base, something that will
+enable him to trace her even though it may turn out to be a long job.
+So he plucks up heart again.
+
+These reflections are interrupted by a remark from Merritt:
+
+"I say, that was a funny yarn of the fair-haired one, wasn't it?  I
+wonder how anyone could have the imagination to invent such a pack of
+stuff!"
+
+Stapleton pricks up his ears.  "What yarn was that?" he asks.
+
+Merritt is only too willing to repeat the story of Netta's delirious
+ravings; but thinks it hardly fair on the girl to give her away in
+the presence of so many of the other officers; Stapleton is
+different--he can be trusted not to spread the yarn.  For all his
+youthful simplicity Merritt has the delicacy to realise that Netta
+would not be pleased if the story should travel back to her: as he
+expresses it in his own mind, it would make her feel such a silly
+fool!
+
+So, with an apologetic "tell you presently," he glides gracefully to
+another topic, and does not return to Netta's wonderful revelations
+till the wardroom is emptied of all but Stapleton, Dale and himself.
+
+"Well, what about this yarn of yours that you were so full of just
+now?" queries the first lieutenant.
+
+Merritt tells him.
+
+"What an absurd story," comments Stapleton, when the other has come
+to the end of his extraordinary narrative.  "How on earth could the
+girl get such weird ideas into her head?"
+
+"Purely and simply the result of the workings of a brain thrown out
+of gear by physical suffering," Dale informs him; "sub-conscious
+ideas come to the surface under such conditions, and the memories and
+fancies gleaned from books, conversations, and a thousand similar
+sources weave themselves together into a fabric which sometimes, as
+in this present case, possesses a wonderful consistency."
+
+"Pity she couldn't invent something a little more convincing while
+she was about it," smiles Stapleton.
+
+"How do you mean?  I thought it was rather a good effort, for a piece
+of pure imagination."
+
+"Well, yes; all but one thing.  Anybody that had the slightest
+knowledge--real knowledge of the subject, would never have made such
+a howler as to talk of blowing up a ship with a bomb small enough to
+be concealed in one's clothing.  That's the weak point of the story
+which gives it away at once."
+
+"Oh, I don't know.  I wouldn't like to say that, exactly.  Modern
+developments in high explosives have been pretty marvellous and
+according to what I have read about these things I see no reason why
+you shouldn't be able to pack into a cigarette-case enough stuff to
+wreck all London."
+
+"Yes, you could, certainly--in theory.  But when it comes to practice
+you find yourself up against certain difficulties--the chief one
+being that you would be almost dead sure to wreck yourself first.
+Very powerful explosives are nothing new--take fulminate of mercury,
+for instance; that is an old discovery, yet so tremendously potent
+that a teaspoonful of it would be sufficient to blow this room to
+blazes."
+
+"If that's the case," asks Merritt, "why do you say that a
+small-sized bomb couldn't be made with enough of it to blow up a
+ship?"
+
+"Because, my son, all these very high explosives are what is called
+very _unstable_, they won't stand any knocking about.  Why, supposing
+you had the teaspoonful of fulminate I spoke about, it would probably
+explode if someone were to slam the door or even walk across the deck
+with a heavy tread.  So you see, you can't put stuff of that sort
+into bombs and cart it round with you."
+
+Dale has an objection to make, as a scientist.  "What you say is true
+enough, Number One, but only as far as our knowledge goes at present.
+There has been a lot of progress made lately in these affairs and
+what I say is that there is no reason why someone should not have
+discovered a means of overcoming the instability."
+
+"Someone such as----?"
+
+"Oh, possibly one of those German chemists; a secret of that sort
+would be just the very thing they would be all out to discover.  It
+would make a tremendous difference to them in this war.  It might,
+for instance, encourage them to attempt just such a scheme as our
+imaginative young friend raved about."
+
+"You speak as though you were not entirely convinced that she was
+raving, Dale."
+
+Stapleton looks sharply at the surgeon as he snaps out these words.
+The love which has sprung up in his heart makes him keenly jealous of
+the least shadow of a slur being cast upon anyone belonging to her.
+
+"Not at all, not at all!" rejoins Dale; "as a matter of fact, it was
+the evident absurdity of the girl's story that convinced me of the
+_bona fides_ of the party."
+
+"What in the world do you mean?"--Stapleton has all his hackles up
+now and is quite prepared to take serious offence.
+
+"I mean," says Dale calmly, taking no notice of his friend's
+annoyance, "that up to the time when the girl chucked her fit I was
+rather inclined to think there was something darned fishy about the
+whole affair; but no one in his senses could concoct such a
+marvellous yarn as that one about a bomb and a plot and a motor-boat
+and all the rest of it, so as soon as I heard it I knew that it was
+nothing but delirium, and that proved to my mind that the three of
+them had been through all that they said they had."
+
+"And what was it, if I may ask, that made you suspicious at first?"
+The first lieutenant is properly on his high horse now.
+
+Indeed, the air appears so threatening that the assistant paymaster,
+not willing to be dragged into a quarrel, thinks it opportune to make
+himself scarce.  He has indeed, a very good excuse, as he is the
+ship's Intelligence Officer and it is time for him to go to the
+office beneath the fore bridge where he employs himself in that
+capacity.
+
+Stapleton, left alone with Dale, presses the question.
+
+"There were one or two things that didn't seem quite to fit in, to my
+mind," Dale replies.
+
+"What things?"
+
+"Well, one was that for people who had been drifting all day in an
+open boat with hardly any clothing to speak of, and in this weather,
+they didn't strike me as being quite so much done in as one might
+expect.  The tall girl, the one you were so chummy with, for
+instance----"
+
+"Yes?  What about her?" almost ferociously.
+
+"Eh?  What are you looking so shirty about?  I was only going to say
+that she didn't look as if she had been under the weather to any
+extent.  No more did the man.  Indeed, except for the fact that they
+both had very red noses there didn't seem much matter with either of
+them!"
+
+An indignant snort is Stapleton's reply.  _Red noses!_  Norah's
+nose--_red_, indeed!  He contrives to smother his indignation, and
+remarks in an unnaturally calm voice:
+
+"And the younger girl?  Perhaps you thought her, too, in a buxom
+state of health, what?"
+
+"No, of course not.  That's just what I told you--it was her evident
+condition of collapse which told me that the others also must have
+really suffered even if they didn't show it so much."
+
+"How very observant of you!"--Stapleton is not showing the best side
+of his character now.  It is unlike him to sneer in this way, and to
+quarrel with his old friend; but love is responsible, very often, for
+upsetting people's tempers.
+
+"And what else did you notice that was suspicious?" he goes on, still
+aggrieved.
+
+"Oh, that was the chief thing.  But there was another little point
+also--didn't you notice it?--one of 'em said their ship was torpedoed
+at five o'clock, and the other, your girl, I think it was--said
+seven."
+
+"_My girl!_" echoes Stapleton, now thoroughly angry.  "I can see no
+occasion for _coarseness_ on your part, Dale, and I'll thank you not
+to speak of the lady again in that way!"  A curious point to quarrel
+about, since if there is one particular light in which he regards
+Norah Sheridan it is undoubtedly as _his girl_!  But again, there is
+no accounting for the whimsies of a man in love.
+
+"And what's more," continues the irate officer, "I consider you no
+better than a suspicious-minded busybody to entertain for a single
+moment such ideas as these.  They don't do you much credit, I must
+say!"
+
+Dale is surprised at the other man's vehemence.  "All right, old
+man," he says kindly, "don't get annoyed about it.  Sorry if I've
+said anything to offend you.  Anyhow, I've got to go for'ard to the
+sick bay now, so you can just calm down and forgive me by the time I
+come back."
+
+He goes, leaving Stapleton still angry and unappeased.
+
+Which is a very great pity.  Stapleton remembers this one-sided
+quarrel afterwards with bitter shame and grief.
+
+For it is the last time he ever sets eyes on his old friend.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+Half-an-hour later Stapleton is sitting in his cabin in the after
+part of the ship.
+
+It is a pleasant little place to look at, with its shining
+green-lacquered corticene deck and the framed pictures against the
+white enamelled bulkheads.  In one respect it is very much like every
+other naval officer's cabin; that is to say it makes a subtle
+combination of elegance and severity.
+
+The severity is provided by the plain Admiralty furniture, which is
+designed rather for usefulness and hard wear than for ornament.
+There is an austere looking kneehole table at one side of the cabin,
+and on the opposite side a plain rectangular chest of drawers, made
+of steel painted to look like mahogany and relieved by shining brass
+drawer-handles.  The end of the narrow room, otherwise the ship's
+side end, where the round scuttle gives light and air to the cabin,
+is completely filled with a harrow bunk resting on top of a long
+cupboard cunningly contrived with sliding shelves for holding uniform
+and other personal gear.
+
+Everything is arranged with this same cunning economy of space.  For
+it must be understood that his cabin is the sole apartment that an
+officer can call his very own, reserved for his own private use, and
+it has to fulfil the functions of bedroom, drawing-room and study all
+combined in one.  Witness the round tin bath which hangs from the
+deck overhead, suspended by iron hooks, and the little mahogany
+two-shelf book-case at the foot of the bunk; these are but a couple
+of the incongruities to be found in that curious blend of rooms which
+constitutes a cabin on board ship; and taken in conjunction with the
+various adornments which the occupier introduces to beautify the
+place, and give it a little reminiscence of home, they certainly must
+strike the eye of a stranger as very curious indeed; but there is no
+denying that the combined result is very attractive.
+
+But there is one point which Stapleton's cabin offers a contrast to
+most of those belonging to his brother officers throughout the navy;
+there is no silver-framed photograph placed prominently upon the
+kneehole table where the owner of the cabin, when busied in making up
+his reports or in the more pleasant task of writing home letters, can
+refresh himself by letting his eyes rest from time to time upon the
+beloved features of wife or sweetheart.
+
+No, Stapleton was speaking no more than the truth when he told Norah
+that never before had he looked with love into a woman's eyes.
+Possibly this explains why he has now taken such a bold and sudden
+header into the dangerous alluring waters of desire; it very often
+happens that way, doesn't it?
+
+Yet, although he has not before him anything visible and tangible to
+remind him of his beloved, he feels no need of any such outward
+assistance.  Sitting at his writing-table with one hand supporting
+his head and the other stretched out idly before him, he gazes upward
+with a fixed and rapturous stare at the frosted bulb of an electric
+light on the bulkhead in front of him; but it is quite evident that
+his open eyes see nothing; nothing, that is, of a mere material
+nature; their gaze is visualising, by the magic of love, the face and
+form of that dark beautiful girl who has come into his life.
+
+Perhaps it is as well that he does not see her as she actually is, at
+this very moment, in the wardroom of the destroyer!
+
+All his peevish annoyance with Dale has vanished completely.  As a
+matter of fact, he has quite forgotten about it; and if Dale were to
+remind him of it--and the surgeon, good-natured man, would be the
+last person in the world to do such a thing--he would probably ask
+with a laugh if it were really possible that he could have made such
+a fool of himself as to get annoyed with his best pal over so
+trifling a matter.
+
+But he never gets this chance.  The thing happens with such terrible
+swiftness that for a moment it is just a meaningless shock, too
+sudden for the brain to comprehend.
+
+Darkness, and a dull roar: a tinkle of breaking glass, and the deck
+rising beneath his feet; a sharp blow on the back of his head with a
+swift concussion of air which takes his breath away.  All happening
+in an instant.  A bright purple light shines at the back of
+Stapleton's eyes, changing quickly to a vivid orange and dissolving
+into a million wandering specks of fire.
+
+Then, as he picks himself up from the deck and comes again to his
+senses, he realises that the electric lights have gone out and he is
+in total darkness.
+
+All this happens in the veriest flash of time; and even as he rises
+to his feet, the whole cabin is still trembling, Stapleton realises
+the meaning of it, and his brain is silently framing the word--
+
+"_Torpedoed!_"
+
+Speech comes thickly to his lips, and in a stupid dazed fashion he
+keeps saying to himself, as he fumbles and gropes his way to the door
+across the overturned furniture, "_Torpedoed!  My God, we've got it
+this time: we're torpedoed!_"
+
+No need for the loud ringing calls of "Clear lower deck," resounding
+everywhere.  Stapleton himself joins in the cry: but already the
+mess-deck ladders are thronged with men filing upwards in a constant
+stream.  There is no crowding though, and no confusion.  The electric
+lights have been extinguished here also, but a match struck here and
+there, soon followed by a dozen more, make little points of light in
+the general darkness, and a moment later the emergency candle lamps
+are lit, and it is now possible to see more or less clearly and to
+regulate better the human traffic.
+
+"Steady, lads, steady--the old ship's not done for yet," rings out
+the voice of Stapleton as he makes his way swiftly along the
+mess-deck.  "Everyone on deck and get to your stations for abandoning
+ship."
+
+There is seriousness on all faces--so far as they can be seen in the
+feeble light of the candles which cast thick massed shadows with
+Dantesque effect upon the congregated men--but no sign of panic or
+even of anxiety.  The British Blue takes the event with his
+invincible calmness as something which is all in the day's work: he
+is even a little elated and cheerful about it, or at any rate tries
+to assume that appearance.
+
+It is this feeling that cheerfulness is the proper thing under the
+circumstances which causes one of the men to sing out the obvious
+"_Are we down-hearted?_"  And the immediate answering chorus is cut
+short by the first lieutenant's:
+
+"That will do, lads.  Quietly does it--keep your breath, you may need
+it presently."
+
+He has made his way through the thronging crowd of men, and at the
+foot of the ladder is assisted by the stentorian voice of a petty
+officer which rings out, "Gangway there!  Make way there for the
+first lieutenant!"  He knows, as do all the men, that if their
+officer wishes to force his way on deck before the others it is not
+for the sake of saving his own skin, but in order that he may take
+charge of affairs and give orders for the safety of all.
+
+From the moment of groping his way out of his cabin till his foot
+steps over the hatchway coaming on to the upper-deck less than a
+minute has elapsed.  But Stapleton already finds that the ship is
+down by the head and fears the worst.
+
+Fortunately it is a clear moonlight night, and almost as bright as
+day.  That makes things easier, as it is possible for all hands to
+get their places and set about what has to be done with the least
+possible difficulty.
+
+As soon as he stands on the upper-deck Stapleton finds himself facing
+one of the lieutenants.  It is Morley, who was officer of the watch
+during the last doer, when that other exciting incident occurred, an
+incident now forgotten and obliterated by a greater happening.
+
+"Where is the captain--have you seen him anywhere?" is Stapleton's
+first question.
+
+"Killed I believe.  The foremast has gone over the side and carried
+away the whole of the bridge.  What's left of it is on fire."
+
+Little need to say that; a cloud of thick smoke obscures the fore
+part of the ship, and even as Morley speaks a tongue of flame leaps
+upward through the smoke, high into the air.
+
+"Call away the fire party.  Take a few hands with you and go and see
+if there is anyone left alive there--look out for yourself though.
+Here, bugler"--the first lieutenant providentially descries a passing
+bluejacket who is in fact looking for him--"sound the Still."
+
+The clear notes of the bugle ring out, and there is silence
+throughout the ship, fore and aft, save for the roar and crackle of
+the gathering fire forward.
+
+"Send the carpenter to me at once."
+
+The warrant officer carpenter appears immediately in response to the
+call, clattering down the foc'sle ladder and running smartly along
+the deck to.  Stapleton.
+
+The latter's unspoken question is anticipated and replied to in a few
+brief words.
+
+"Not a dog's chance, sir.  There's a hole in her side big enough to
+drive a wagon through.  I give her ten minutes at the most; but she
+may go any moment."
+
+"Everybody up from the engine-room and stoke-hold.  Pass the word
+quickly," orders Stapleton quietly.  And in response to the order
+more men come quickly pouring up on deck.
+
+The boats, meanwhile, have been swung outboard and lowered part way
+down the ship's side.
+
+The vessel begins to lose her way; the engineer officers, coming up
+last of all those down below, have stopped the engines before
+leaving, and have opened the valves so that from the escape-pipes at
+the top of the funnels immense jets of steam pour forth like thick
+white clouds into the air with a deafening, vibrating roar.
+
+"Abandon ship!  Everyone down into the boats!"  The ominous order is
+executed as though at general drill, and the men make their way
+quietly into the boats.  Happily the ship is sinking by the head and
+without any list to speak of, so there is no difficulty about getting
+the boats into the water.  Morley comes back at this instant, and
+reports that he has seen no one alive, nor indeed anyone at all,
+alive or dead.
+
+"The whole place is blazing," he says, "there is nothing left of it
+at all.  The fore magazine must have been touched off by the
+explosion of the torpedo.  As far as I can see, the foc'sle has been
+blown off, or very nearly."
+
+"The foremost bulkhead has gone, and the ship is filling quickly,"
+adds the carpenter; the zealous individual, reckless of his own
+safety, has been down below again to make another inspection and see
+if there is any chance at all of keeping the ship afloat.  At the
+first sign of the disaster, the unmistakable sound of the explosion,
+the _Marathon's_ one remaining destroyer escort had circled round and
+raced back to render assistance.  Now she has stopped her engines and
+lies abreast of the cruiser, half a cable away.
+
+Her searchlights are turned on the sinking cruiser, lighting up the
+deck and the men now swarming down into the boats.
+
+"Shall I come alongside to take you off?" shouts her commander
+through a megaphone.
+
+"No--keep away," answers Stapleton; "she may blow up as she goes
+down.  We will pull off to you.  Keep your searchlights on the water
+in case any of our boats get into trouble."
+
+This is his last order.  With a nod to the other officers who are
+remaining by him on deck he signs to them to get down into the boats.
+Last of all, he leaves himself.
+
+Most of the boats are already pulling away in the direction of the
+destroyer.  Those which are still alongside unhook from the falls as
+their officers jump into them, and follow as fast as the oars can
+strike the water.
+
+None too soon.  Scarce is the last boat fifty yards from the doomed
+ship when the _Marathon_ plunges forward and dips half her length
+into the water.  There is no further explosion--it is a quiet end for
+the gallant ship.  For a few seconds her stern hangs poised almost
+perpendicular in the air; then, with a forward glide, it sinks
+beneath the waves, and the _Marathon_ has disappeared for ever.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+It is the afternoon of the following day.  A brilliant clear
+afternoon without a cloud in the sky, and warm sunshine flooding the
+calm blue sea and making the distant cliffs and islands of the naval
+base appear as though they were made of delicately tinted enamels.
+Such days are not infrequent in autumn even in the far north of
+Scotland; they make a sort of fairy midsummer at a time when the icy
+fingers of winter are already fast closing their grip upon the land.
+
+In the sunshine it is quite hot; but directly one steps into the
+shade one feels the chilly nip in the air, tingling and bracing.
+
+That is why the matronly lady who has just dragged a couple of
+deck-chairs across the grass from a building near by is careful to
+place them well out in the sunlight, giving a careful glance to make
+sure that no neighbouring shadow in its swift advance shall presently
+cover the spot she has chosen.
+
+Mrs. Shaw prides herself on being thoughtful about little details of
+this sort.  And, indeed, her pride is thoroughly justified, for she
+is an extremely capable lady as all her friends are willing to admit,
+even though they may sometimes add that she is a trifle fussy.
+
+However, her fussiness is always of a kindly type, like that of a
+motherly hen in charge of a big brood of chicks.  And the chicks
+which are dearer to her heart than any others are those big ones
+whose plumage is the dark blue of the British sailor.
+
+"What ever will you do now, without all your beloved sailor-boys to
+look after?" said her friends when the first outbreak of war suddenly
+spirited away the fleet and emptied the streets of our seaport towns
+of all those fine lads whose neat blue rig had up till then made an
+ever welcome relief to the sombre suits of the civilians.
+
+"What will I do?" replied the energetic lady, "why, go after 'em, to
+be sure!"
+
+"Oh, but _how_?  Do you think the Admiralty will let you?"
+
+"Hm!  If I want to go and be with my boys and the Admiralty stand in
+my light, well, so much the worse for the Admiralty, that's all I've
+got to say about the matter.  But they won't stand in my way--you can
+always bluff these official people, if you know the right way to set
+to work about it!"
+
+"And what is the right way, Mrs. Shaw?"
+
+"Meet officialdom with officialdom.  If I were to request permission
+to go in a private capacity to run a home for sailors at one of their
+precious secret bases, I should only get a polite snub and a very
+definite refusal.  But if I can persuade one of the big societies to
+let me join up with them--well, I'll stand the racket and the society
+can take the credit so long as it lends its name and patronage.
+That'll do the trick, I'll be bound!"
+
+The event proved that Mrs. Shaw's psychology was not at fault.  Very
+few ladies can boast of being present with the fleet in the early
+days of the war and of sharing the secrets of the fleet's
+hiding-places; but Mrs. Shaw and her helpers were amongst those few.
+
+Her hut, the constant rendezvous of hundreds of bluejackets, bore the
+name of a deservedly well-known society painted in big letters across
+its tin roof; but to the men who frequented it and found in it a real
+home it was known by no other name than that of "Mother Shaw's."
+
+"Mother Shaw's" has been an established institution on the island for
+a long time now; but Mother Shaw herself has never yet had to
+undertake a job so much out of her ordinary line as that which is
+occupying her this sunny autumn afternoon.
+
+Having arranged the two deck-chairs with most precise care, she goes
+back to the hut and emerges again with her arms laden with rugs and
+cushions.  These also seem to need the skill of a master-mind to get
+them into just the exact position, for Mrs. Shaw arranges and
+re-arranges them with many a pat and a pull before they are settled
+entirely to her satisfaction.
+
+Once more she makes the short journey to the hut.  This time she
+stays longer inside; and when she reappears she comes out arm in arm
+with a tall dark girl who seems glad of her support.
+
+It is Norah Sheridan.  She is very pale.  The strain of all she has
+been through has left its mark upon her.  Yet she holds herself
+gallantly, and though the drawn lips indicate the shame and anxiety
+still gnawing at her heart she does her best to smile her gratitude
+for Mrs. Shaw's kindly mothering, and speaks bravely and
+cheerfully--when she can get a word in edgeways, which to tell the
+truth is not very often.
+
+She is dressed in a plain tweed costume which fits her graceful
+figure to a marvel--better, indeed, than the girl for whom it was
+originally made, one of Mrs. Shaw's young helpers who has come to the
+aid of Norah's distinctly sketchy wardrobe.
+
+The older woman settles her young charge into a deck chair, covering
+her knees with a thick rug and arranging cushions behind her
+shoulders and head.  Then she stands off and with a kindly scrutiny
+reviews her work.
+
+Apparently it satisfies even her exacting nature.
+
+"There now, my dear," the good lady announces, giving the cushions
+just one more pat, "I think you'll be snug enough like that!  Don't I
+make a good nurse?  I ought to, considering the number of times I've
+had to nurse my own daughter, a delicate girl of just about the same
+age as you, my dear, but not nearly as good-looking, she takes after
+me, the plain but useful type.  It takes all sorts to make a world,
+doesn't it?  We can't all be good-looking!  Now, my husband was a
+very handsome man, and my boys are exactly like him; I only had the
+one girl, and she must needs go and turn after me!  Often the way,
+haven't you noticed it?  It does seem a shame--what do boys want with
+good looks?  They can get on perfectly well without 'em, whereas the
+girls, poor things--but there, I managed to get married in spite of
+my face, so perhaps it doesn't really matter so much, after all!  As
+for you, I don't think girls of your type ought to be allowed at
+large at all--you're a positive danger to society!"
+
+Norah starts, and her hands grip the sides of her chair.  Her pale
+face goes a shade paler still.  Mrs. Shaw's well-intentioned
+flattering words have come home to her in a sense that was far from
+the speaker's thoughts!
+
+"Why, what's the matter with you, child?" the observant lady remarks,
+"Cushions not very comfortable?  There, that'll be better.  Another
+one just here under your back?  No?  Don't mind saying so if you
+would really like one, I can easily get it for you.  Dear me, I can
+see I shall have to take my broom to keep off all the young naval
+officers from this place, or else you'll be wrecking the peace of
+mind of the whole lot of 'em!"
+
+"Do the officers come ashore here then, Mrs. Shaw?  I was hoping that
+we might just remain here quietly and see nobody until we can get
+away and go home."
+
+"You need not see anyone if you really don't wish to do so, my dear.
+I can always say you are not well enough--and it won't be much of a
+fib either, because you certainly do look a poor wisht creature, and
+I don't wonder at it after what you have been through.  But as soon
+as it begins to get known that you are here I know I shall have my
+work cut out!  I have three girls helping me here, and you would be
+astonished at the number of naval officers who drop in to tea at the
+hut now; they never used to come before those girls arrived on the
+scene!  Of course, they all say that it is me they come to see, the
+monkeys!"
+
+"I hope I shan't see anyone.  I don't want to," repeats Norah in a
+plaintive little voice.
+
+"No?  Well, you shan't then, dear.  Of course not.  I'm not surprised
+at your wanting to be as quiet as you can, after such a dreadful
+experience.  Fancy your being picked up by the _Marathon_!  I have a
+nephew on board that ship--a dear boy he is, too!"
+
+"Have you, Mrs. Shaw?  Which is he?  I wonder if he was one of those
+I saw?"--Norah somehow has a presentiment of what the answer is going
+to be.  It was too much to hope for that she might flee away and hide
+in obscurity.  Fate was bound to weave its cruel net of complications
+around her feet; but oh, the irony of it, that this kind motherly
+soul should be the one to commence the dreaded weaving!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+"Alick Stapleton is my nephew's name.  He is the first lieutenant of
+the ship, so naturally you must have met him.  What did you think of
+him?  Isn't he a dear fellow?"
+
+"Oh, was that your nephew, Mrs. Shaw, the first lieutenant?  Yes, I
+did meet him.  He was very kind to me--to all of us.  Indeed, I don't
+know what I should have done if it had not been for him!"
+
+This is not quite strictly true.  Norah does know very well what she
+would have done if it had not been for Alick Stapleton: and even as
+she utters these words of gratitude she is fully aware of the
+sinister inner meaning which they conceal.
+
+"I can quite imagine it!" answers Mrs. Shaw briskly.  "I daresay he
+was good to you, the wicked scamp!  In my opinion, it is a very good
+thing that the _Marathon_ will be away for some little time.  I'm
+quite certain that if Alick were only to see you as you are looking
+now he would fall in love with you at once, with those eyes of yours!
+Well, well, I'm a garrulous old woman, am I not?  Gossiping here like
+this when I ought to be working.  Though you know, my dear, I look
+upon you as an out-and-out fraud!--Cushion slipping again?  How you
+do start!  Nerves, I suppose.  You must be in a weaker state than I
+imagined; I was just going to say that I didn't think there was
+really very much the matter with you.  You're one of the strong kind,
+not like your--your cousin, didn't you say she is?  Poor girl, in a
+perfect state of collapse ever since she was carried on board that
+destroyer last night--and I'm sure I don't wonder at it!"
+
+"But she is better now, Mrs. Shaw, isn't she?  Thanks to your
+kindness.  May I not see her presently?  Or isn't she well enough for
+that yet?"
+
+"Yes, yes, my dear, certainly you shall see her.  That's really the
+reason why I've brought you out here, more for her sake than yours.
+As soon as I can get her dressed I'm going to fetch her out here and
+fix her up in this chair by your side, and you can have a good talk
+to each other.  I thought it best to keep her in bed all the morning,
+and she has been sleeping all the time till an hour ago, which proves
+I was right in keeping her there."
+
+"Will she be ready soon?  I should so like to see her!"
+
+"Very soon now.  Fortunate, wasn't it, that the girls who are helping
+me were able to rig you out with some of their clothes?  You would
+have looked funny if you had had to get into some of mine!"
+
+"You have all been awfully kind.  And there is just one thing more I
+should like--couldn't you give me something to do while I'm sitting
+out here?  I am quite strong and well, really I am.  There is nothing
+the matter with me--except that I cannot bear to sit still, alone,
+with my thoughts; it is quite unendurable!  Couldn't I do something?"
+
+"Nonsense, my dear, you must really try and be more cheerful.  I
+declare, you're looking utterly miserable!  You simply must make an
+effort to calm yourself, you know!  And, if you want something to do,
+you might go on with these sea-boot stockings for me.  Can you knit?"
+
+With a woman like the indefatigable Mrs. Shaw one outlet for her
+energies is not enough; so even while she is busying herself about
+the thousand and one things connected with the management of the
+sailors' hut she generally carries about with her a piece of knitting
+to occupy her tireless fingers.
+
+She has just such a piece now, and pulls it out from one of her ample
+pockets and offers it to her patient, who grasps it eagerly,
+exclaiming:
+
+"Oh, yes, I can knit.  Let me have the stockings, do!"
+
+"They are for our poor sailors," says Mrs. Shaw, beaming with
+motherly kindness as she hands over the work; "I am sure you can
+sympathise with them in all they have to go through, now that you
+have experienced a little of it yourself.  I always feel that we can
+never do enough for them.  Remember, what would be the fate of us
+women if it were not for our sailors--_and_ our soldiers, God bless
+them!  And so many of them have given up their lives for us, poor
+gallant lads.  Killed, maimed, blown up, burnt, drowned----"
+
+Norah springs to her feet, trembling all over, thrusting out her
+hands as if to ward off some unseen evil.
+
+"Oh, don't, don't!" she cries wildly.  "Can I not forget such horrors
+for one single moment?  Why must you remind me of them?"  Then she
+sinks back into her chair again, and seems to be ashamed of having
+given way to such emotion; for she adds in a quieter voice, "Oh,
+forgive me, Mrs. Shaw.  I did not mean to be rude to you, really I
+didn't.  But I am--my nerves are----"
+
+"Of course, of course, poor lamb!  You are not so strong as you think
+you are.  I am a foolish old woman, and ought to have had more sense!
+Hallo, there's someone coming!"
+
+Norah follows with her eyes the direction in which Mrs. Shaw has
+turned her head.  From the landing-place, out of sight beneath the
+slope of the hill two men are approaching, two naval officers.  At
+first, only their heads and shoulders are visible; but as they mount
+the hill and come more into view they are recognised by Mrs. Shaw as
+the admiral in charge of the base and his secretary.
+
+"Oh, can't I get away somewhere?  I don't want to meet anybody!"
+cried Norah in distress at the prospect of having to talk to
+strangers--especially strangers who may ask awkward questions!
+
+But Mrs. Shaw will not listen to anything of the sort.
+
+"Why, child," she reassures her, "you need not mind these two.  In
+fact, I think you really ought to see them, they have evidently come
+to enquire for you.  It's only Admiral Darlington, such a _nice_ man!
+And his secretary too, Mr. Dimsdale, a charming fellow and a most
+able man--but a thorough woman hater.  It even makes him nervous to
+talk to an old woman like myself; and I think he would run a mile
+sooner than talk to a pretty girl like you!"
+
+"Not like most _naval_ men, then, is he?" smiles Norah, endeavouring
+to act a cheerful part, though her own sinking heart knows well
+enough that it is only acting.
+
+"Ha!  Mrs. Shaw, good afternoon, good afternoon," the admiral hails
+her as soon as he gets within earshot.  "So I see you've got one of
+your patients out in the sunshine.  That's good--nothing like
+sunshine and fresh air to bring back the roses into pale cheeks."
+
+"Yes, Admiral," replies the good lady, "and I was just going this
+very moment to fetch the other one out too.  Miss Sheridan, let me
+introduce Admiral Darlington, and Mr. Dimsdale.
+
+"Now you know one another, and I can leave you for a few minutes
+while I get the other poor thing.  Now, Mr. Dimsdale, you must be
+entertaining.  Try and brighten her up a little; she wants rousing!
+Well, I'll be off now."  And so saying she bustles off to the hut,
+full of energy and kindness as usual.
+
+Admiral Darlington settles himself comfortably in the vacant deck
+chair at Norah's side, and to judge by the satisfied appearance of
+his beaming face is thoroughly pleased with the situation.  It is a
+long time since he has had the opportunity of talking to such a
+pretty girl as this, and the gallant old sea-dog is ready to make the
+most of the chance.
+
+The secretary, however, is left standing awkwardly in face of the
+seated pair.  He looks rather a forlorn sight.  So much so that the
+wicked old admiral chuckles inwardly at his discomfiture, and slyly
+says:
+
+"You can sit on the ground, Dimsdale.  It won't hurt you, you are
+younger than I am.  Besides, it's the correct thing for youth to bask
+at the feet of beauty!"
+
+"I--I'd rather stand, thank you.  I'm quite comfortable like this,
+thank you," stammers the unhappy secretary.
+
+Oh, if the conversation can only be confined to pleasantries and
+small-talk, thinks Norah.  Anything, rather than that it should veer
+round to herself and her experiences!  So, with an effort, she
+continues to act her part:
+
+"Oh, Mr. Dimsdale, please do sit down.  Perhaps you are afraid of the
+damp?  You can have a corner of my rug to sit on, if you like.  Isn't
+that nice of me?"
+
+"Oh no, not at all, not at all!--I mean--yes, very.  But really, I'd
+rather stand."
+
+"I see," answers Norah, "I quite understand.  No giving way to
+idleness--the alert, active temperament--always ready for instant
+action.  I, expect you are just longing for an engagement, aren't
+you?"
+
+"An _engagement_?" cries the thoroughly flustered secretary.  "No,
+certainly not!  Oh, I see what you mean--yes, yes, of course--stupid
+of me--I should love to be engaged.  I mean--dear me, how very
+oppressive it is this afternoon.  Quite hot, isn't it?  I think, sir,
+I had better be getting back to the ship to write out that report for
+you."
+
+"Oh, no hurry, Dimsdale, no hurry at all," answers the wicked
+admiral.  "In fact, I don't even know what report you are talking
+about.  But whatever it is I am quite sure it can perfectly well wait
+for a while.  You don't come ashore often enough; and now that you
+_are_ out of the ship for once you may as well stay and get the
+benefit of the fresh air."
+
+"Yes, _do_ stay," adds Norah's voice, which can be meltingly
+persuasive when she tries to make it so.  In this instance the
+earnestness is not altogether assumed; three's company, two's none,
+when it is a question of a _tête-à-tête_ with the admiral.
+
+"It's--it's rather cold out of doors this afternoon, sir.  I think
+I'd better be getting back to the ship."
+
+"Nonsense, man, nonsense," says Admiral Darlington.  "You can stay
+awhile, surely.  We'll go back together, presently."
+
+"Mr. Dimsdale," insinuates Norah, "I should think that you--all of
+you--must find it very trying to be cooped up on board a ship month
+after month all by yourselves and never having any ladies' society,
+don't you?"
+
+This is a subject on which the secretary can be really eloquent.  His
+face quite lights up as he replies:
+
+"I never enjoyed being in the Navy so much before in all my life!"
+And then, suddenly awaking to the enormity of these sentiments, he
+tries to cover it by adding, "Oh, I don't mean that, I mean it's
+very----"
+
+"It's perfectly damnable, Miss Sheridan.  Tut, tut, perfectly
+dreadful, I should say," breaks in the admiral.
+
+"I am sure it must be," smiled the girl.  "How beautiful it is to sit
+here, Admiral Darlington, with such a view, and all these ships to
+look at."
+
+The admiral's beaming face becomes suddenly grave and thoughtful, as
+he lifts his eyes to rest them on those distant ships lying at anchor
+which his young companion has remarked as a beautiful sight.
+
+"It is something more than beautiful," he says meaningly; "it is an
+impressive sight--next to the Grand Fleet itself, perhaps the most
+impressive sight to be seen anywhere on the seas at this present
+moment!  When you go home, Miss Sheridan, you will be able to tell
+your friends that you have seen some of those ships that stand
+between Germany and her monstrous dreams of world-power.  Were it not
+for the Fleet, the war would have come to an end long ago, with
+Europe blackened and devastated, crushed under Germany's iron heel.
+Look well at those ships, young lady.  They are just a part of the
+protecting shield that keeps our country from the invader.  His foot
+will never defile our shores so long as the Fleet is above water!"
+
+This is trying enough to Norah's ears, but not so bad as it might be.
+
+And, to her great relief and joy, Mrs. Shaw rejoins the group at this
+moment, with Netta.  The two girls meet in a close embrace with
+hurried, whispered greetings.  No time for confidences now, for Mrs.
+Shaw is already clucking over her chickens.
+
+"Here is our other patient, Admiral," she says; "Not very strong yet,
+I'm afraid.  We shall have to take great care of her for a few days,
+before she will be fit to travel."
+
+"She can't be in better hands than yours, Mrs. Shaw," replies the
+admiral gallantly.  "I hope, young ladies, you will consider
+yourselves the guests of the British Navy for as long as you like.
+We shall be only too delighted to do what little we can for you,
+knowing what you women have done to alleviate the hardships of us
+sailormen.  We can never repay what we owe to you!"
+
+How sharp is the stab which such a kindly hand can deal unknowingly.
+It is more than Norah can bear.
+
+"You too?" she cries, hiding her face in her hands.  "Must everyone
+remind me?"
+
+"Remind you?" echoes the admiral, slightly puzzled.  "Oh, of your
+sex's kindness towards the Navy, you mean.  Well, my dear young lady,
+you will have to accustom yourself to being thanked for that.  I can
+tell you, we shall never forget what you have done.  Mrs. Shaw, let
+us leave these young people for a few minutes; I have something I
+want to say to you."
+
+"Certainly, Admiral," assents the good lady, a little surprised, but
+nevertheless allowing him to lead her away where they can talk
+without being overheard.  "Is it anything I can do?"
+
+"Well, it was not merely to enquire for these two poor things that I
+came ashore this afternoon.  I have something rather serious to tell
+you, something that I don't want anybody to know.  But it is only
+right that you should hear it."
+
+"Not about Alick?" anxiously asks the other, clutching her
+companion's arm.
+
+"Your nephew is quite safe; you can be perfectly easy in your mind
+about him.  But his ship, the _Marathon_--however, come a little
+further away, where we can be sure they won't hear us.  We don't want
+the matter to become public property yet, you understand."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+Besides all her other anxieties, there is still one further question
+that has been exercising Norah's mind--what has become of her cousin
+Patrick?  For she has not seen him since they landed together from
+the destroyer which brought them all back to the base.  She and Netta
+were taken at once to the island where Mrs. Shaw presided over the
+hut, as the one place where they could be cared for by members of
+their own sex.  But as for Patrick, he was disposed of somewhere
+else.  Norah does not know where; so now she finds her opportunity to
+ask.
+
+"Mr. Dimsdale, can you give me any news of my cousin, Mr. Sheridan?"
+
+"Mr. Sheridan?  Oh, he is in the Depôt ship for the present.  I
+believe it was his wish to go South to-morrow by himself, and to send
+for you ladies as soon as you are well enough to undertake the
+journey.  I believe the plan is altered now--I should say, I believe
+he has made a different arrangement since this morning.  I'm afraid I
+really must be getting away, if you will be good enough to excuse me.
+I am very busy this afternoon; heaps of work waiting for me in my
+office."
+
+Netta raised her eyes to him--and very pretty grey eyes they are,
+too, and anxiously enquires:
+
+"You have seen my brother, then, have you?  When was it you saw him?
+How was he?  Did he ask for us?"
+
+Dimsdale finds it a little difficult to reply to all these questions
+at once; but manages to say:
+
+"Yes, and I expect you would like to see him too.  Shall I go and
+tell him so?  I can go right away and do it now, if you like.  I
+can--easily.  I have nothing particular to do this afternoon."
+
+"Oh, no," cries Netta, shrinking from the ordeal of having to face
+her terrible brother, "don't let him come here!"
+
+The secretary eyes her very sympathetically, and is evidently
+affected by her distress.
+
+"He needn't come, if you're not feeling up to it," he replies
+encouragingly.
+
+"Yes, that is it," Netta tells him, glad to be given a ready-made
+explanation of what might seem an unnatural reluctance to see her
+brother.  "I am not strong enough just now.  Perhaps it would be
+better for him to go on by himself as he suggests."
+
+"But _I_ want to see him," Norah breaks in, "I _must_ see him, and as
+soon as possible."
+
+It really is rather trying for poor Dimsdale to arrange matters so as
+to please these two young ladies who hold such very opposite and very
+exacting views!  He can only follow the line of least resistance, and
+promise the last speaker exactly what she asks.  This is the easiest
+way out of it for him, and so he proceeds to tell Norah that she
+shall certainly have her wish and see her cousin at once.
+
+"Not to-day; not to-day!" the agitated Netta appeals.
+
+"Very well then, to-morrow?  To-morrow morning?  I'll arrange it.  I
+really _must_ go and find the admiral; I am sure he wants me.  Some
+very important business!"
+
+"Well, Mr. Dimsdale," Norah tells him, "if you will please arrange
+for my cousin to come here to-morrow morning I shall be very
+grateful."
+
+"I'll go and see about it this very minute," answers the much
+harassed secretary, seeing at last a chance of escape: "I'll go right
+off to the Depôt ship at once.  Good morning--good afternoon, I mean.
+Good afternoon!"
+
+And, after a few hasty strides in quite the wrong direction, he
+recovers himself sufficiently to know where he wants to go, and turns
+about, disappearing presently towards the landing-place.
+
+Norah follows him with laughing eyes.  "Poor man!" she whispers,
+smiling.
+
+But Netta has a haunting fear which does not allow her to share in
+her cousin's amusement.  She turns to her at once, gasping out:
+
+"Oh, Norah, at last I've got a chance to speak to you!  Tell me, did
+you do it, did you do it?"
+
+No need to specify further her meaning.  Norah knows, and at once
+gives her answer.
+
+"No, Netta, I did not.  I meant to do it--indeed, up to the very last
+moment I fully intended to; but then I--I altered my mind!"
+
+"Oh, thank God!  But--why?"
+
+"I do not know.  No, that is not quite true; I do know why.  Let me
+at least have the honesty to speak the truth to you, even though it
+is to my own shame!  A woman who had the fixed intention of becoming
+a wholesale murderess ought not to shrink from putting off a little
+of her maiden modesty.  I did not set the bomb, because of--because
+of one man."
+
+"What man, Norah?  That young officer who was so kind in looking
+after you?"
+
+"Yes.  He was so good to me, and so merry-hearted.  And all the time
+while he was taking care of me with such tenderness--with his gay,
+light chatter, which I could see well enough was only meant to keep
+me from breaking down--all that time I kept saying to myself, _I am
+going to kill you soon; in a few hours you will lie lying a burnt and
+mangled corpse at the bottom of the sea; and it is my hand that is
+going to send you there!_"
+
+Netta gives a low moan, burying her face in her hands; only looking
+up again after a pause to say:
+
+"Horrible!  I know!  _I_ felt like that almost from the beginning,
+even before we started out.  But you have always been so much more
+strong-minded than I am.  I quite thought that _you_ would have
+allowed nothing to hinder you--nothing, no one!"
+
+"No one but this man alone could have done so, I believe," solemnly
+answers the other girl.
+
+"What!  Do you mean----?  You _fell in love_ with him, then?  Norah!
+_You_!"
+
+"I do not know.  Oh, why do you ask me that question!  But I will
+make a clean breast of it all, to you.  Yes, I think I did.  But, all
+the same, it was not on his account alone that I held my hand at the
+last moment."
+
+"But I thought you said----?"
+
+"I mean--yes, I _would_ have refused for his sake alone; but it was
+not _only_ that.  It was--yes, I suppose it must have been love;
+love, that made me wake up and see what a terrible thing it was that
+I was about to do.  And then, all those other lives suddenly seemed
+to me just as precious as"--very softly come her closing words--"as
+his!"
+
+"But what became of the bomb?" enquires Netta, who not being in love
+herself has now become the more practical-minded of the two.
+
+"Ah," Norah replies despondingly, "that is just what I would give
+anything to know!  Patrick snatched it from me, just as I was going
+to fling it overboard, and at that very moment the officers came into
+the room.  Whether Patrick was able to put it down somewhere
+afterwards, I cannot tell.  I am so afraid he _may_ have found an
+opportunity.  But I hope not; indeed, I am almost sure he did not."
+
+"You are sure of that, you say?  Oh, I am so glad!"
+
+"No, not _quite_ sure.  That is just the haunting dread I still feel.
+And, that, too, is just why I must see him, to find out definitely."
+
+"But haven't you asked him already?"
+
+"No, I tried to, but he would not speak to me on board the destroyer.
+He is angry with me, and looks on me as a traitress to the cause--as
+I suppose I am.  But he _must_ tell me what he did!--_Look!_"
+
+Her voice has suddenly altered to one of intense alarm and surprise.
+
+"_Look!_" she repeats, clutching at her cousin's arm, and gazing
+wildly down the path.  "It is----"
+
+Netta has seen too; and she also needs no second glance to recognise
+the man who has approached unnoticed until he is quite near them.
+
+It is Alick Stapleton.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+Lieutenant-Commander Stapleton advances with smiling face and
+outstretched hand towards two very frightened girls.  He is quite
+aware that they would have cause indeed to feel alarmed if they
+really knew of the disaster that has happened to the _Marathon_; but
+he is also aware that they are in ignorance of this occurrence--and
+it is up to him to keep them so.  Why should they be made to feel
+this additional shock, after all their sufferings?
+
+So his first greeting is a cheery--
+
+"So I have found you!  And given you a fright at the same time, eh?
+You did not expect to see me again so soon, I suppose?  But, as a
+matter of fact, our cruise was unexpectedly shortened, and I got
+ashore not so very long after you did."
+
+"Oh, I am so glad, so glad!" Netta exclaims, with the most obvious
+relief and joy beaming in her pretty grey eyes.
+
+"That's very good of you to say so," returns Stapleton, a little
+dryly; knowing that the loss of the _Marathon_ is at present a secret
+he is somewhat at a loss to account for this ebullition of gladness.
+
+There is rather an awkward pause; and Stapleton's usually ready wit
+fails him when he searches in his mind for the appropriate thing to
+say next.  Netta's uncalled for expressions of joy have made things
+just a little difficult for him.
+
+Happily, the situation is relieved from an unexpected quarter, Mrs.
+Shaw coming into view and running--yes, running, and with rather
+shaky steps, towards her nephew.
+
+"Why--there's--oh, Alick, my boy, my boy!" she cries, hugging him
+close, then holding him off to take a good look at him, and then
+hugging him again.
+
+"Hallo, Auntie!" laughs the young man, recovering his
+self-possession, "why you seem all of a tremble like!  Got a job of
+work to do, or what's affecting you?"
+
+"You cheeky fellow!" is all she answers him: all she answers him
+openly, that is; for still holding him in her embrace, she finds
+opportunity to whisper in his ear:
+
+"Hush, I know all about it.  I've just seen your admiral.  Remember,
+not a word to these two!"
+
+And then, speaking in her natural tones and turning towards the girls:
+
+"This bad nephew of mine is always giving me the most dreadful
+shocks!  Coming back so soon, when I thought he was hundreds of miles
+away!  Everyone well on board the _Marathon_, Alick?"
+
+"Thank you, Auntie."  Stapleton cannot bring himself to play up to
+the good soul's sly acting quite so well as she would like; but he
+does his best.
+
+"I'm very glad indeed to hear that," Netta tells him.  "You were all
+so good to us."  So great is her reaction and relief of mind that she
+cannot help repeating her sentiments.  And she looks so very much in
+earnest about it; her face grows quite pale as she speaks the simple
+words.
+
+Mrs. Shaw notices this.  "Why, child," she observes, "you're looking
+quite upset!  You must have been allowing yourself to get
+over-excited--now don't tell me you haven't!  You had better come
+indoors and lie down in the shade for a little while; I was half
+afraid it might be too much for you out here.  Alick, you may stay a
+little and talk to Miss Norah, and then come in and see me before you
+go back.  But don't stay too long, and mind you don't get her excited
+too!"
+
+Not unwillingly, Netta obediently takes the good woman's proffered
+arm, and rising from her chair goes to seek the friendly shelter of
+her room in the hut.  Indeed, it is quite true that what she has just
+now seen and heard has been rather overcoming.  She has seen
+Stapleton alive, and heard from his lips that all on board the
+_Marathon_ are safe and sound.  Norah also has told her that she did
+not leave the bomb in the ship; and, obviously, Patrick could not
+have done so either, since no misadventure has occurred.  Now, she
+reflects, Norah's mind as well as her own can be at rest; and nothing
+remains but to get away as soon as can be arranged and try and live
+down the memory of this nightmare, taking up some quiet useful walk
+in life far away from Patrick's dreadful environment.  All that will
+be easy, now that this gigantic load has been removed from their
+lives.
+
+So thinks Netta, as she departs with her kind friend.  And as she
+rests on the couch where Mrs. Shaw places her with much kind fussing
+and many injunctions to lie still and rest, she is able already to
+indulge in rosy visions of the future.
+
+She does not sleep, but just lies motionless with wide-open eyes, and
+there is a trace of a smile lingering still on her lips.  This happy,
+peaceful face is very different to the care-worn countenance she was
+wearing but half an hour ago.  Like a child, she seems able to put
+off very quickly the horrors of the past as soon almost as they have
+gone, and to forget them utterly.  Her conscience has never approved
+of the dreadful deed in which she was to have taken part--and, in
+fact, did take part up to a certain point; but then, her conscience
+was a very small factor in comparison with the iron force of her
+brother's compelling will, and it never really had a chance to assert
+itself.
+
+Now, however, she is happy in the thought that events have turned out
+just as she would really have willed them to: it seems almost a
+miracle, and too good to be true, but the fact remains that she never
+wanted to blow up the ship, and the ship has not been blown up.
+
+So Netta suffers no mental agonising like that of Norah's, whose
+purpose has only been broken down by one fearful blow after another.
+
+So she rests with peaceful mind, and begins even now to build up
+hopeful plans for the better days to come.
+
+Amongst these happy visions there is one that shapes itself very
+clearly and in the brightest colours: her cousin Norah must surely
+blend her life with that of the man who has won her heart.  Why, the
+two are even now at this very moment sitting side by side and
+exchanging close confidences: from this it can only be a step to that
+chapter of their life story which closes with the words "and they
+lived happily ever after."  What could be simpler or better than
+this?  There is nothing in the world to prevent it, thinks Netta;
+and, having thoroughly settled this pleasing conclusion to her own
+complete satisfaction, she at last closes her eyes and falls into a
+happy slumber.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+Norah, meanwhile, is left alone with Stapleton.
+
+She has given him no response to his cheery greetings, not even a
+smile, and looks at him with a serious and mystified air.
+
+The question which is on her lips finds utterance immediately Mrs.
+Shaw and Netta have gone out of hearing; she puts it slowly and
+earnestly:
+
+"How did you come ashore?"
+
+Stapleton laughs away her seriousness, or tries to; "I heard you were
+here, and I came to see you," he answers readily.
+
+"I don't mean that--you know I don't!" Her earnestness deepens into
+an anxious craving for the truth, as the quivering voice betrays when
+she adds the direct question.
+
+"Why was your cruise cut short?  And when did you get in?"
+
+Stapleton is not the man to be cornered so easily as this, however,
+and finds a way to evade the awkward interrogation with every
+appearance of frankness:
+
+"Now you are asking me to tell you naval secrets!  What, do you
+imagine I am going to trust you with the knowledge of the movements
+of the fleet?  It wouldn't be safe!  But I can answer one part of
+your question; we got in about six o'clock this morning.  And, as I
+told you, I came here to see you as soon as I could find out where
+you were.  You ought to say 'pleased to meet you,' or something like
+that, you know."
+
+"'Pleased to meet you, Mr. Stapleton,'" echoes Norah with mock
+politeness.
+
+"Yes, but are you really though?" urges Stapleton more earnestly.
+"_Are_ you pleased to see me again?  Are you glad that I came
+straight here to see you?  Tell me!"
+
+"Why, of course I am," answers the girl, fencing off his impulsive
+attack; "it cannot be anything but a pleasure to see one of those who
+were so kind to us last night."
+
+"You know perfectly well I don't mean anything like that!"  This
+impetuous lover is so very direct in his speech, it is difficult to
+keep him at bay; Norah, with a trembling heart, finds all her
+defences breaking down at once.  "I told you last night that if I
+lived I would search for you until I found you.  I meant it.  And I
+have found you--sooner than I dared to hope.  Now then, I must hear
+you tell me, are you glad to see--me?"
+
+A silence.
+
+"Norah--are you?"
+
+"Yes--I--am."
+
+"Norah!  My Norah!"
+
+"Ah, no, no!"
+
+"But it is ah, yes, yes!  Look me in the face--can you tell me that
+you do not care for me?"
+
+She does as he bids her; raises her glorious dark eyes to his,
+fearlessly, like the brave-hearted girl she is, and tells him the
+truth she is too proud to conceal.
+
+"Yes, I do care.  Very much!"
+
+"Surely it is all a dream!  It is all too strange, too wonderful, too
+exquisite to be true!  There flashes across the girl's mind, as she
+speaks her simple confession of love, a sort of instantaneous
+vision--a mental picture of her life.  She sees dark clouds forming,
+rolling down upon her and growing ever more and more threatening;
+gloomy black clouds, heavy with doom and horror; they close around
+her and she is almost engulfed in them--when on a sudden, a dazzling
+shaft of golden light pierces the thick darkness, rolling back the
+evil clouds and scattering them into nothingness, leaving her bathed
+in the gleaming glory.
+
+The vision passes.  Her lover has taken her by the hand and is gently
+compelling her to follow him.  His desire is to lead her away, out of
+sight and hearing of all who may chance to break in upon them.  This
+supreme moment of their lives must not be interrupted; it is for
+themselves alone.
+
+The hillocky ground of the wild heather-clad island affords many a
+safe retreat for lovers' confidences, even though it is a fairly well
+frequented spot.  Here is the sailors' hut, and here the recreation
+ground, and further away some scattered cottages of the highland
+natives; but there is room enough amongst the rough sedgy wastes
+where the bog-cotton makes a snowy carpet and the curlew and plover
+awake the solitudes with their plaintive cries, room enough for two
+to escape from all the wide world and find a new glorious world in
+which live none but just themselves alone.
+
+So they walk, side by side, in silence at first: and the rough ground
+beneath their feel becomes the golden floor of heaven.
+
+And, presently, Alick Stapleton takes his beloved into his arms.
+"Then you are my Norah, after all," he whispers to her; "my very own
+Norah!  Yet I never doubted it, from the first moment I saw you.
+Even then as soon as my eyes rested on you, I knew that there could
+never be any other woman in the world for me but you, and I
+hoped--yes, I knew, that you would sometime or other come to feel
+just the same way about me!  And do you really and truly mean that
+you can love me too?  That you began to care for me at that very same
+time?  Wonderful!"
+
+A premonition of impending misfortune strikes coldly upon her heart,
+a dark foreboding such as chilled the passionate rapture of another
+maiden long ago who, like her, feared a sudden ending to the glories
+of love at first sight--
+
+        "_----Although I joy in thee,
+  I have no joy of this contract to-night;
+  It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden,
+  Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
+  Ere one can say 'It lightens.'_"
+
+
+Stapleton feels no such foolish dread, and would laugh her fears away.
+
+"Why, what is there to be afraid of?" he smilingly chides her.  "As
+long as we love each other there is nothing in the world that can
+come between us!"
+
+Norah sighs, answering him, "Ah, how many who have loved have said
+the same thing--and believed it!"
+
+"But _I_ believe it, and you must believe it, too," this forceful
+lover insists--"Norah, my darling, do not let such sad thoughts come
+upon you at such a moment as this!"
+
+"No," she makes answer, almost fiercely, thrusting aside her dread
+presentiment, "this hour of love and happiness at least may be
+allowed me, and nothing shall snatch it away!"
+
+She clings to her lover's arm, leaning upon him as though she would
+seek shelter there and keep the world at bay, defying fate and all
+the threats and dangers of the days to come.
+
+"Why, that's my girl," smiles Stapleton.  "But not this hour of
+happiness only, Norah.  Love and happiness shall be ours all through
+our life.  It will rest with ourselves to make it so.  Every thought
+of mine shall be for you.  Do you know, I kept thinking about you all
+the time after you left us last night?  I could not put you out of my
+mind--I did not want to!"
+
+Not _quite_ the truth, Lieutenant-Commander Stapleton, first
+lieutenant of the _Marathon_, not quite the whole truth and nothing
+but the truth; for was there not that terrible time when all his
+thoughts had been for the ship and her crew, suddenly overtaken by
+that awful disaster!
+
+Yet he must not let his mind dwell upon that horror for a single
+moment, lest his brain should telegraph to Norah's the sad awfulness
+of it; for both their minds are surely tuned alike at such a time as
+this, and it would be very easy for her to receive impressions from
+the waves of her lover's thoughts.  At all costs, the knowledge of
+the disaster must be kept from her, at least for the present.
+
+So Stapleton dismisses the fearful memory; and a lighter recollection
+takes its place in his mind.  This is better fitted for her ears, and
+he smiles as he tells her.
+
+"Do you know, when my marine servant brought the hot water to my
+cabin just before dinner, I said 'Thank you, darling,' to him."
+
+"He _must_ have been surprised," laughs Norah.
+
+"Oh, I don't know; it takes a good deal to surprise a marine!--But
+tell me, did you think about me, too, just ever so little?"
+
+"More than a little.  I thought about you all the time.  Oh, I am so
+glad to know you are safe--all of you!"
+
+"Hm!  Why shouldn't we be safe?"--Stapleton thinks it rather a
+curious remark, and hopes to goodness his face will not betray him
+into making any unnecessary revelations.
+
+Norah also realises how very inopportune are the words that have
+slipped out unawares; and endeavours to explain away her real
+anxieties.
+
+"Oh, I don't know why!  There are always dangers at sea, aren't
+there?  And especially now in war-time."  The girl turns very white
+as she voices these stirrings of her heart.
+
+Stapleton feels he must dispel these fears at once.  He knows what an
+agony is endured by sweethearts and wives who let their imagination
+brood upon the perils of the deep in time of war.  His messmates have
+spoken of such matters in his hearing how the dear women at home
+endure torturing days and sleepless nights in utter helplessness,
+thinking of those who go down to the sea in ships, and suffering
+infinitely more than the objects of their anxiety and
+compassion--who, indeed, are very often spending a thoroughly
+comfortable time and would be vastly surprised to be told they were
+the subjects of so much pity.
+
+It will never do for Norah to start indulging in such worries; so
+Stapleton turns the subject aside with a light-hearted jest.
+
+"Well," says he, "anyhow, there are no more dangers at sea than there
+are ashore.  Why, the most dreadful things happen to those brave
+people who have the courage to live on dry land.  Think of the--the
+'bus accidents, and the--the banana skins!  Think of the flag days!
+More people get killed in one day in London through bursting
+blood-vessels in altercations with taxi-drivers than have been lost
+in action at sea since the days of Nelson; there are statistics to
+prove it!  And, then, there was an uncle of mine who spent
+twenty-nine years afloat, and directly he retired and took to the
+beach, blessed if he didn't go and marry his cook!  Oh yes, the land
+is far more dangerous than the sea, every time!"
+
+And so, betwixt love and laughter, the happy minutes pass.  Norah
+clings to her hour, the more because she knows full well it must end
+soon.  She must make full confession--that is imperative; and, when
+she has confessed, there can be no more question of love between her
+and this gallant, loyal young King's Officer.  He will hate her--or,
+what is worse, will pity her; but in no case can he consent to link
+his life with hers; she has put herself beyond the pale by her rash
+and wicked plotting.
+
+But the confession shall not be made just yet.  Of that Norah is
+determined.  So little has been her portion of joy in life till now,
+so little will be hers when this brief hour is gone; now, while love
+is within her grasp, it shall be hers to enjoy, come what may!
+
+Yes, and there is another consideration that makes her keep silence:
+the safety of Netta, who is very dear to her.  Norah is quite
+prepared to stand the punishment for her own guilt, but she will not
+incriminate her cousin.
+
+Wait till they have escaped Southwards, when Netta can hide herself
+somewhere till the affair has blown over--Patrick doubtless, will be
+quite able to take care of himself.  Then, and not before, Norah says
+to herself, she will write to Alick Stapleton, openly confessing her
+own share in the plot--and then she, too, can shrink into obscurity
+and pray that her life may not be a long one.  But, for the present,
+she bids defiance to black care.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+But the end comes sooner than Norah has planned.
+
+Fate will not be mocked and defied, but demands quick retribution.
+Even now, while the lovers are wandering idly along the moorland
+paths and opening their hearts in the first effulgence of their
+new-found happiness, grim Fate is stalking them over the heather-clad
+hills and is coming quickly towards the girl who has dared to defy
+him.
+
+And with cruel irony, Fate chooses for Norah's undoing three
+instruments which should be the last in the world to bring harm to
+her--a dog she has petted, a man she has befriended, and a child she
+has loved.
+
+The dog comes first.  He is just a mongrel spaniel, a brown thing
+with silky ears and most beseechful eyes and a more than human memory
+for a friend.  Oh, that memory!  It means the death of love to Norah!
+Over the ridge of the rough ground the dog appears, ranging from side
+to side and nosing about in the coarse growth as a spaniel will.
+Then he stops, seeing the couple beneath, and raises his brown head
+for a glance at them.
+
+One glance is enough.  With a short excited yelp of recognition he
+comes tumbling down the slope and rushes towards Norah, flattening
+himself to the ground at her feet, wriggling and dragging his silky
+body forward in an ecstasy of delight, and all the time flogging the
+earth with a thudding tail.
+
+"Why, Mopsey, Mopsey!" cries the girl, stooping quietly to pat him.
+
+And then she draws back quickly, biting her lip, knowing that she has
+betrayed herself.
+
+"Hallo," says Stapleton, astonished, "why, the dog seems to know you!"
+
+Is there any escape from this trap in which Norah has allowed herself
+to be caught unawares?  Yes, perhaps with luck.  It means _lying_,
+but Norah realises that she must not stick at telling more
+untruths--if Netta is to be saved.
+
+"And you know him, too," Stapleton adds; "where have you seen him
+before?"
+
+"Most dogs like me," she answered; "I always make friends with them
+at once.  And this one reminded me of one I used to have at home, two
+or three years ago.  He was called Mopsey, and was so much like this
+dear thing that for the moment I really half thought it was my old
+Mopsey come to life again!"
+
+Lies!  Lies!  They fall awkwardly from the girl's lips, and she hates
+herself for telling them.  She is not accustomed to speaking the
+thing that is not true--_was_ not accustomed, rather, till forced
+into it by the mad career upon which she was persuaded to embark.
+And now it is not easy to step back into the old paths of honour and
+truth.  A hateful necessity holds her in its grip.  For her own sake
+alone she would scorn to take refuge in this lying subterfuge, even
+though her brief hour of love is at stake and she finds herself
+standing at bay, faced by the hounds of Fate.  But Netta's safety is
+another matter, and one which unrelentingly demands that she shall
+pile falsehood upon falsehood.
+
+Even so, with her assumed hardihood, Norah is not able to bring a
+tone of conviction into her words; they ring false, as false as they
+are.
+
+Nor does this escape her companion's notice.  Stapleton darts a quick
+glance at her, almost doubting her for a fraction of a second.  Then
+he feels thoroughly ashamed for daring to doubt her and is more than
+annoyed with himself for having done so.  After all, why on earth
+should any doubt creep into the occasion?  It is not such a very
+strange coincidence, to come across a dog resembling one you have
+owned in former days, is it?
+
+Now he is all for making honourable amends for his momentary distrust.
+
+"There is nothing very wonderful, Norah, dear," says he, "in all dogs
+loving you.  _They_ know--they have an instinct for recognising
+people who are genuine and good.  You never find a dog making friends
+with a mean person, a coward, a liar."
+
+Oh!  Oh!  Inwardly Norah cowers and shrinks beneath this stinging
+blow, but outwardly she has to keep a bold face and maintain at least
+the appearance of frankness.
+
+"What was your own Mopsey like?" pursues the girl's lover.  "Spaniels
+are always so intelligent; was yours?"
+
+Norah takes refuge in stooping to fondle the dog at her feet, in
+order to hide her face while she proceeds to invent the life history
+of an entirely imaginary dog.
+
+"Intelligent?" she laughs, "why, Mopsey was the cleverest dog that
+ever lived!  He knew as much as most humans, and a good deal more
+than some!  He could do anything but speak.  Even from a puppy he
+seemed to understand everything I said to him.  For instance, I only
+had to say 'Mopsey, go upstairs and fetch my handkerchief, I left it
+on the bed,' and he would go at once and bring it.  But that was
+nothing; once, I was going out to play tennis and when I had gone
+about half a mile from the house I discovered that the shoes I was
+carrying were not my own but Netta's, so I whistled to Mopsey and
+told him to take them back quickly and bring me my own shoes.  You
+will hardly believe it when I tell you that within a quarter of an
+hour he was with me again, bringing the right pair of shoes in his
+mouth!  I don't suppose there ever was quite such a clever dog as my
+dear old Mopsey!"
+
+No, probably there never was!
+
+Perhaps, in her artistic effort to portray the intelligent creature
+of her imagination, Norah has a little overdrawn the picture: yet
+Stapleton, blinded with love and devotion, does not see it, and only
+murmurs admiringly:
+
+"You must have been awfully----"
+
+Exactly how Stapleton intended to conclude his sentence is never
+known, for he breaks it off in the middle, being interrupted by a
+voice which comes ringing across the heather, the voice of some man
+as yet unseen, concealed by the turfy hillocks.
+
+"_Mopsey, Mopsey!  Good dog, come here then, where are you?  Mopsey!_"
+
+The dog has pricked up his silken ears at the first sound of the
+voice.  He turns his head, and then for a moment pretends not to have
+heard, yielding to the pleasurable lure of Norah's caressing hands.
+Only for a moment, though.  As the cry is repeated, coming nearer
+this time, the dog's instinct of duty proves stronger than the rival
+attraction, and he bounds off up the bank in a floundering run to
+seek his master.
+
+_His master!_  Norah gasps as she realises how much greater her
+danger is than she had fondly imagined.  How could she be fool
+enough, she asks herself, to imagine that Mopsey's master could be
+very far away from Mopsey?
+
+So now the game is up!  All hope is lost, and her ingenious
+fabrications have been of no avail.  She might have known it!
+
+Resigning herself to her fate, she turns and looks upwards to find,
+as she expected, Stapleton looking down upon her in troubled
+wonderment.
+
+There is something more than wonder in his handsome face, shadowed
+now by a look of severity, almost of anger.  He is frowning, and a
+glance of accusation shines from his eyes:
+
+"Why, Norah----" he begins; but proceeds no further.  Once more he is
+interrupted.
+
+Over the top of the bank appear two men in bluejackets' rig, stalwart
+young able seamen their faces glowing with the healthy buffetings of
+the North Sea wind and spray.  At least one of them possesses this
+appearance to a marked degree; he has evidently spent a long sojourn
+up in the Northern Mists.  His companion rather lacks that jolly
+weather-beaten look, though he too is fresh-coloured and healthy; and
+it is at his heels that the dog Mopsey walks--though he breaks away
+again at sighting Norah, and comes lolloping up to her again.
+
+The two bluejackets check their stride on seeing an officer before
+them, and are about to turn respectfully aside and seek another path
+when Mopsey's master turns his eyes upon the girl at the officer's
+side--recognises her!
+
+Then, with a leap and a run through the thick scrubby growth of furze
+and heather, he comes to her with outstretched hand and a smile of
+astonishment and welcome.
+
+"Why, Miss," he exclaims, "who ever would have thought of seeing you
+here!  I thought you were going to Ireland!"
+
+Stapleton stands apart in silence, looking from one to the other, and
+not knowing what to make of it all.  He thinks he had better watch,
+and listen; possibly the mystery will explain itself.
+
+It does.  He has not long to wait.
+
+"How did you get here, Miss?" continues the sailor; "only last week,
+when you were staying at our house in Glasgow, you said you were
+going to your cousin's home in Ireland for six months--how is it that
+I find you here?  Is your--is Miss Netta with you?"
+
+Norah, for one brief moment, has thought wildly of brazening it out
+and denying that she has ever met this man; of saying that he must be
+mistaking her for someone else of his acquaintance.  But she
+perceives that this course of action would avail her not at all.  It
+is only too obvious that the man has really recognised her; besides,
+he has openly mentioned Netta's name.  There is no escaping from such
+a trap as this!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+In her utter dismay and despair the events of the previous week flash
+across Norah's mind like a swift dream.
+
+They say that even the most cunning criminals, even such astute
+experts as have learnt every clever device to cover up their tracks,
+usually neglect some simple precaution or commit some perfectly
+childish blunder which leads to their undoing.
+
+So it has now proved, after all the ingenious and elaborate
+precautions of Patrick Sheridan and his fair accomplices; one little
+fact overlooked, and the whole conspiracy is threatened with exposure.
+
+Or is it not rather one turn of the wheel of fate which was quite
+beyond the power of the plotters to foresee or to avoid?
+
+For who could have foretold that Dick Baynes, able seaman and
+volunteer, would have been sent to this remote part of the world when
+there were so many other places, so many other ships, to which he
+might have been drafted?
+
+Indeed, Dick Baynes himself had distinctly said that he was expecting
+to go out to the Mediterranean.  He had even named the ship which he
+was going to join, and the actual date on which he was to depart.
+
+Norah remembers that a certain vague feeling of distrust had chilled
+her from the very first moment when Baynes came into the house at
+Glasgow where she and her cousins were staying while making their
+final plans.
+
+It was the house of certain sympathisers with the great cause.  Known
+and trusted sympathisers; yet not wholly trusted, for it was not well
+to take too many people into complete confidence in such a desperate
+venture as this.
+
+So the Maloney family, in their mean house in one of the poorest
+quarters of Glasgow, knew but little of the doings and plans of the
+Sheridans beyond the fact that they were to give the visitors shelter
+for a few days and assist them without questioning in everything that
+might be required.  The word was passed to them to this effect, and
+it was an order which they dared not disobey even if they desired to
+do so.
+
+No difficulty was experienced in maintaining the necessary secrecy,
+owing to the fact that secrecy and mystery were the dearest delights
+of Sheridan and his fellow-plotters.  The society, league, or
+organisation, or whatever its correct name was, to which he belonged,
+dabbled in mystery and secrets like a child playing with its pet
+toys.  Indeed, there was very much that was childish in the whole
+business; coupled with a good deal of malevolent purpose.  The
+conspirators took themselves very seriously: if they had possessed a
+grain of their proverbial national humour their enterprise would have
+died at its birth.  But just as in the case of similar enterprises
+emanating from a similar source, that grain of humour was unhappily
+lacking.  So there were pass-words, oaths, secret sessions, codes,
+signs, and all the rest of it, highly diverting to the very serious
+conspirators who succeeded thereby in impressing themselves with an
+enormous sense of their own importance and would sooner have parted
+with life itself than have divulged a single one of their precious
+secrets--all of which, by the way, might have been discovered with
+ease by any village constable had he thought it worth while.  But,
+unhappily, the official mind does not always think it worth while to
+investigate every hare-brained scheme compounded of play-acting and
+murder in equal parts; with the result that the comedy sometimes
+becomes overtaken by the tragedy.
+
+Nor was money lacking to provide for the complete carrying out of the
+plot.  The headquarters of the association supplied ample
+funds--though where these funds came from originally was not known to
+every casual member; only the inner circle possessed this particular
+secret.
+
+As far as the Maloneys were concerned, their only part was to provide
+a fast sea-going motor-boat, and to give house-room to the Sheridans.
+The former of these requirements was one which they were easily able
+to supply, owing to their knowledge of the Clyde and the many firms
+on its banks.  The boat was purchased, not openly--that would never
+have done!--but by underground channels and devious ways, through
+sub-agents and second and third parties under assumed names and every
+conceivable falsification--a process which gave the greatest pleasure
+to Patrick Sheridan and his mysterious chiefs at headquarters.
+
+Buying an old ship's lifeboat, fitting her out so as to look as she
+was intended to look, and then concealing her in an unfrequented
+creek somewhere on the west coast of Scotland was a matter that
+called for rather more care and precaution.  But even this was
+effected at last, though it necessitated many trips to and fro,
+always by sea so as to avoid inquisitive observation.
+
+All went very well, so long as the Sheridans had to deal with the
+Maloneys alone.  They were decent enough people in their way, very
+poor, and in all probability quite ignorant of the blacker side of
+the organisation to which they belonged as very subordinate members;
+nothing but their poverty had induced them to join it, poverty and
+the discontent which ensues therefrom, causing them to leave no
+source of possible aid untried.  And they did find some help in this
+league; many were the pickings they gained by assisting it in their
+humble way--and they were content to remain ignorant and ask no
+questions so long as the trickle of gold continued.
+
+The Maloneys were but two, husband and wife, both of them somewhat
+over the middle age.  Well, there was a third, but so small that it
+hardly counted.  This was wee Sheila, the two-year old child of the
+Maloneys' only daughter.  Kathleen Maloney, at the age of twenty, had
+disgraced her parents and brought shame upon her home--at least, so
+the parents themselves said--by marrying a man in the hated uniform
+of the tyrant English King.
+
+Kathleen however, did not altogether share her parents'
+sentiments--especially when a counter-argument was presented in the
+form of handsome young Dick Baynes who came a-courting her and
+speedily won her.
+
+But as the misguided girl made amends for her treachery by dying at
+the birth of her child no great harm was done.  Wee Sheila was taken
+to live with her grandparents, and the unhappy widower was packed off
+to go about his lawful occasions in the British Navy.
+
+Just at the time when the Sheridans came to Glasgow, able seaman
+Baynes was stationed at Portsmouth Barracks, waiting to be drafted to
+a ship.
+
+Then, quite unexpectedly, he appeared at Glasgow.
+
+Pat Sheridan scowled darkly when he saw the fresh-complexioned spruce
+young seaman cross the threshold.  Little use had he for any man
+belonging to the British Navy!
+
+Norah did not scowl; but she understood well all that this man stood
+for--and all that she was committed to.  And she feared, though
+scarcely knowing why.
+
+As for Netta, she neither scowled nor feared, but was openly and
+genuinely pleased to have someone about the premises of a different
+type from the dark conspirators around her--especially one of such a
+pleasing appearance and manner as the handsome and lively Dick Baynes.
+
+The gallant young sailor was quite wrapped up in his motherless
+daughter, a fascinating little mite with pretty ways and lovely face;
+but he found space also in his large heart to devote a good deal of
+dog-like attention to Miss Netta Sheridan--always with the utmost
+deference and respect, like a peasant worshipping a princess.
+
+Had Netta been of a humbler station in life, it is just possible that
+Dick Baynes might have made the attempt to console himself for his
+lost Kathleen; and who knows but what he might have succeeded, with
+his honest manly bearing and his handsome open face?  As it was,
+Netta suffered him to the extent of permitting him to act as her
+escort day after day while the others plotted.  And many were the
+walks they took through the Clydebank suburbs, and sometimes in the
+parks of Glasgow itself.  Mopsey, the sailor's dog, acted as chaperon
+on these occasions; that is to say, sometimes, for mostly the fickle
+Mopsey preferred to remain at home in company with Norah, to whom he
+had taken a very great fancy.
+
+And then wee Sheila fell ill.  Very ill indeed was the poor mite,
+sick nigh unto death.
+
+It was Norah who nursed her, sitting up three nights by the child's
+bedside and never leaving her even for a single hour.  Norah, who
+soothed her delirium and quieted her with a touch of her tender
+motherly hand--Norah, in whose heart at the same moment was the plan
+of sending hundreds of men to their death!  It was Norah who remained
+in the sick-room when the worst peril was past, and amused the child,
+tossing fretfully on her little bed, by telling her fairy stories for
+hour after hour, stories woven out of the love in her mother-heart,
+such as no one can invent but those who love little children and
+have--or ought to have--little children of their own.
+
+And it was Netta--who scarcely went near the sick room--who got all
+the gratitude from Dick Baynes.  For this is a part of that
+mysterious thing, the Way of a Man with a Maid, that when he is
+deeply in love his eyes can see no one else but her, and if the whole
+world beside come showering gifts upon him he fondly imagines that
+she alone is the source of all gifts.
+
+Norah saw this, and understood.  As for Netta, it is doubtful whether
+she even saw, and if she did, certainly she took it all as a matter
+of course and accepted the homage without comment.
+
+When Dick Baynes' leave was up, he went back to Portsmouth, taking
+Mopsey the dog with him.  He said he expected this to be his final
+visit before going abroad, as he thought he would be leaving for the
+Mediterranean almost immediately.  Whereat Patrick Sheridan was
+morosely glad, and Norah was unaccountably relieved; and Netta was
+slightly sorry for at least twenty-four hours.
+
+And none of the three ever dreamed that at the very last moment the
+drafting of able seaman Baynes to a Mediterranean ship would be
+cancelled and that he would be sent instead to this Northern base.
+
+Norah, gazing wide-eyed at the man in her utter surprise and dismay,
+reviews all this in a moment of thought, and even finds time to
+reflect how utterly powerless one is, after taking the most
+scrupulous precautions, to foresee or to combat the blind blows of
+destiny.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+No, it is useless to pretend she does not know the man.
+
+If he were alone, such a course, though desperate, might perhaps be
+attempted, even if the chances of its succeeding were small indeed.
+Still, with some hard lying and a brazen play at indignation,
+something might possibly come of it.
+
+But, unfortunately Dick Baynes has a chum with him, and what he finds
+a little difficulty in saying to this fine young lady and her officer
+companion he manages to express more easily to his own bluejacket
+friend.
+
+"Bill, this is that young lady I was telling you of," he says,
+dragging forward his chum--who does not at all appear to appreciate
+being forced into a conversation with such company, "the young lady
+who helped the other young lady to nurse my little Sheila when she
+was so sick.  Very good to us, she was, and I shall be ever grateful
+for all she did--she _and_ the other young lady."
+
+"Many's the time I've 'eard you say so, Dick," says Bill rather
+sheepishly, as if he is not quite certain what is the correct thing
+to say under the circumstances; and then, judging that he is called
+upon to make some appropriate remark to the young lady in question,
+he adds, "Your servant, Miss."  Which is an entirely non-committal
+statement, showing politeness and a desire to please, and fitting
+well into any and every sort of circumstance.
+
+Norah ignores the well-meant effort, and turns upon Dick Baynes with
+a question.  Forgetting that he began by asking her a very similar
+one with regard to her own movements, she voices her surprise and
+consternation in the query:
+
+"How do you come to be here?  I thought you said you were going to
+the Mediterranean?"
+
+Anything to prolong the time and put off the evil moment when she
+must be presently left alone with Stapleton!  Anything to confuse the
+details and conceal, if possible, the worst of the truth under a mass
+of empty talk.
+
+"And I thought you were going to Ireland, Miss," answers the man.
+"So it seems we were both of us a little out of our reckoning.  But
+I'm glad indeed to meet you again and thank you for all you did for
+me last week.  I was able to look in at Glasgow for a few hours on my
+way up, and you'll be surprised to find what a difference there is in
+my little Sheila.  She's as bright and bonny as if she had never been
+ill at all--'tis wonderful how quickly children will recover from an
+illness, isn't it?--and she is always asking, so her grandma tells
+me, for Miss Netta and Mr. Sheridan, and you."
+
+Stapleton can keep silence no longer.  He has listened to the amazing
+revelations of this talk quite dumbfounded; scarcely understanding
+its import at first, till little by little the full meaning of it
+dawns upon his mind.  And he has been looking from Norah to Baynes
+and from Baynes to Norah with consternation written on every line of
+his face.  At last he breaks out, unable to keep back the question
+that rises to his lips, and, alas, unable anymore to keep back his
+growing doubt of Norah.
+
+His voice, as he opens his lips to speak, sounds dry and unnatural;
+it is the voice of a man suddenly subjected to a terrible mental
+strain.
+
+"What is this you are saying, my man," he questions, addressing
+himself to able seaman Baynes; "did I understand you to state that
+this lady was in Glasgow last week, and that you saw her there?"
+
+Norah, like a drowning man clinging to a straw, has only one last
+hope, one almost impossible chance remaining.  She seizes it in her
+desperation, and with a frown and a shake of her head, unseen by
+Stapleton, endeavours to extract from Baynes a denial which she
+fondly hopes may sound plausible, Dick Baynes is an intelligent
+man--to a certain extent.  That is to say, he is quite able to grasp
+the fact that the frowning lady whose mouth is silently shaping a
+"no" for his instruction expects him to contradict everything he has
+so far said; but his intelligence does not go quite so far as to
+enable him to invent on the spur of the moment some contradictory
+statement which can carry conviction with it.
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir?" he stammers.  This at least gives him a few
+seconds more for further thought.  And Norah is still making signs to
+him behind Stapleton's back.  Her face, Baynes notices, is very
+white, white even to the lips.
+
+"You heard what I said perfectly well," snaps out the imperious voice
+of the officer.  "Was this lady staying in Glasgow last week, or was
+she not?"
+
+Norah's lips are shaping the words "last month; last month."  And
+Baynes is not slow to grasp the significance of this lip-signalling;
+it is not for nothing that he has been in his youth a frequenter of
+the picture houses.
+
+His face lights up with relief at being thus helped out of his
+difficulty; and taking the cue he at once repeats aloud:
+
+"Last month, sir, not last week.  Did I say last week, sir?  It must
+have been a slip of the tongue on my part.  I meant to say last
+month."
+
+It is so obviously overdone, this explanation.  This is just where
+Baynes' intelligence fails him; he has not the necessary culture for
+the higher flights of lying, and ought never to make the attempt.
+
+Stapleton, as was to be expected, sees through the transparent
+subterfuge at once, and brushes the man and his denial aside with a
+contemptuous exclamation.
+
+He turns to the other man, whom he has up to now ignored and scarcely
+even glanced at, overcome as he is by so many conflicting emotions.
+And, looking at him now, recognises in him a man he has often met and
+talked to, a seaman employed at one of the signalling stations on the
+island.
+
+"You, Gibbons, at any rate will tell me the truth," he says almost
+appealingly.  "I want to know exactly what this man has told you
+about this lady.  Keep silence, you," turning sharply upon Baynes who
+has opened his mouth to attempt some further confused explanation.
+
+"Well, it's like this 'ere, sir," begins the sailor whom Stapleton
+has addressed as Gibbons; the poor man, evidently at a loss as to how
+he can satisfy at the same time both his chum and this stern-looking
+officer, removes his cap and passes the fingers of his brawny hand
+through his thick, clustering brown hair, combing it into the
+resemblance of a quickset hedge.  "It's like this 'ere, sir.  Baynes
+an' me has been chums for a very long time, sir, ever since we was
+little boys at the same school, sir.  An' I don't want to say nothin'
+as is contrary to what he might be wishful for me to say, sir."
+
+"I only want you to tell me the truth.  I insist upon your telling
+me," orders the voice of authority.  "What I want to know is simply
+this; has this man Baynes told you that he saw this lady in Glasgow
+or has he not?"
+
+"He has, sir."
+
+"And _when_ did he tell you he saw her?  Was it last week, or was it
+last month?"
+
+"Well, you see, sir----"
+
+"Answer me."
+
+"Well, sir, as I understood him to say, it was last week.  But then,
+sir, I might 'ave been labouring under a mis--mishapre'ension like."
+
+"That will do.  I don't wish to hear any more.  You can go now, both
+of you."
+
+The two sailors, saluting, turn about and move off without another
+word; neither of them feeling exactly sorry to get away from a
+situation in which they have felt the very reverse of comfortable.
+But they are sorry enough for the white-faced lady they have left
+behind them; and Baynes, for his part, feels rather that he has not
+played up to her quite as well as he might have done.
+
+The other man is almost equally disturbed about the affair, though
+with less understanding of its real meaning.  He can grasp the fact,
+though, that there is something more serious than an ordinary lovers'
+quarrel.
+
+"I wouldn't like to be in 'er shoes, Dick," he blurts out, "and 'im
+so precious angry.  They looks like Othello an' Desdemona in the
+play.  Wot's she done, old man?  Wot's all the row about?"
+
+"Oh, hold your tongue, man," curtly answers Baynes.  He is grieved
+for the girl who has befriended him, and fears that trouble is in
+store for her; though he little knows how bitter the trouble is.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+Norah is left alone with her lover.
+
+No, not her lover any longer;--her accuser.
+
+He stands facing her, in a terrible silence.
+
+Oh, if he would only speak!  If only he would hurl at her words of
+abuse, of condemnation.  Anything would be more endurable than the
+speechless accusation of that grey face and those burning eyes.
+
+The unhappy girl, distracted with remorse and grief, sways and
+totters, but no hand is extended to support her.  Stapleton's arms
+are folded on his breast, and he does not move an inch to help her as
+she sinks to the ground and crouches at his feet, hiding her face in
+her hands.
+
+Then, at last, he breaks the silence.  "You told me, only last night
+you told me," he says, speaking very slowly and clearly, "that you
+had been at sea for eight days, coming from America.  Which is the
+truth, that story--or this?"
+
+She has raised her face from her covering hands and glanced upwards.
+It seems as though the compelling gaze of those blazing eyes has
+forced her against her will to meet them.
+
+"Ah, don't look so terribly at me!" the girl moans.  "How can you say
+you love me, when you look like that?"
+
+The appeal falls on deaf ears.
+
+"Norah.  Have you been _lying_ to me?"
+
+She only answers with another moaning lament, spoken rather to
+herself than to him, though he catches the words,
+
+"Ah, this is the end, then.  So soon!"
+
+There is no sign of pity or relenting in the cold command that comes
+sharply:
+
+"Answer me!"
+
+Norah, in her utter agony, finds the courage of despair.  She
+struggles to her feet and stands boldly facing her accuser, flinging
+out her arms in a gesture that implies she has cast away all her
+defences, as, she exclaims wildly:
+
+"Yes--I _have_ lied to you.  But I will tell you everything,
+everything!"
+
+"I think you had better," replies Stapleton, speaking in a very
+solemn voice, though he is perhaps ever so little disarmed by this
+belated profession of frankness.  "Listen, Norah," he continues, "the
+young surgeon and Merritt repeated to me some wild ravings of your
+cousin when she was so overwrought last night.  They, both of them,
+put the whole thing down to the unhinged imagination of a nervous
+highly-strung girl.  And so did I when they told me of it.  In fact,
+till this very moment I assure you that I had completely forgotten
+all about the matter--even in spite of what happened later."
+
+"What do you mean?" says Norah, with a sudden feeling of cold fear
+gripping her at the heart.  "_What_ happened later?"
+
+Stapleton's words fall on her ears with dreadful meaning.  "Two hours
+after you left us, the _Marathon_ blew up.  She now lies--all that is
+left of her--at the bottom of the North Sea."
+
+"_Oh, my God, my God!_"
+
+"Tell me," urges the other, disregarding her agonised cry, "speak the
+truth now; was there anything in this story of your cousin's?"
+
+Norah has a question which she must hear answered, however insistent
+her accuser may be.
+
+"Was--was anybody lost?" she stammers.  There is no relief in the
+crushing reply:
+
+"Yes, over a hundred officers and men.  The doctor and Merritt are
+both gone.  There is no one but myself that knows anything of--of
+what your cousin raved about.  Tell me--_was_ it mere raving?"
+
+"Over a hundred lives!" moans the miserable girl, too much appalled
+by the fearful news to give an answer to his question.  It is not
+fear that stops her now, nor any desire to hide the truth; the
+terrible success of her plotting has put all such ideas out of her
+mind.  She is thinking of those men she has sent to their death.
+"Oh," she wails, "if I could die now and bring them back!"
+
+Stapleton is not turned aside from his purpose.
+
+"Norah! answer my question," he insists; "speak!--ah, there is no
+need!"
+
+No need for words, indeed.  The girls bowed head and her silence are
+in themselves a confession.
+
+"Have you no pity for me?" she presently makes her appeal.
+
+"Did you have any pity for those men whose eyes are now closed for
+ever?" comes the stern reply.  "Ah, I gave my love to you quickly;
+but I did not think that I was giving it to a--to a mur----"
+
+"Ah, do not say it!" cries the girl, taking a step towards him and
+thrusting forward her hand as though to close his lips against the
+dreadful word--"I am not that--I am not, indeed!"
+
+The impassioned protest brings to Stapleton a faint gleam of hope.
+
+"What do you mean by that?" he cries.  "Explain yourself, quickly."
+
+It is possible that there may yet be some strange key to this
+mystery, something which may even now enable him to retain his faith
+in this girl to whom he has given his heart to break?
+
+"Yes, I _will_ tell you," answers Norah.  And you can believe me this
+time--you must believe me.  I did not set the bomb which blew up the
+ship.  I meant to do it--up to the very last moment I meant to see
+how honest I am with you now!  I am not even attempting to conceal
+anything from you; you shall know the full extent of my wickedness,
+to the very utmost.  I did mean to destroy the ship.  But--I repented
+at the last and did all that I could to prevent the deed being done.
+And I thought--I hoped--that I had succeeded.  Oh, I know that I am
+wicked, wicked!  But I am not quite so bad as you think me!  And now
+I am punished.  Those drowned and maimed sailors will always be
+before my eyes as long as I live, and--and I shall never see you
+again.  Well, I suppose it will not be long before the law deals out
+another punishment to me--I hope it will be soon, so that I may draw
+down the curtain over these sorrows for ever.  But will you not at
+least have this much mercy on me to say you believe me when I tell
+you that I tried to save the ship, and thought that I had saved it?"
+
+"Yes, I do believe that," agrees Stapleton in a calm judicial manner.
+And Norah somehow feels that there is less hope for her in this fair
+and deliberate judge than if he were determined to listen to nothing
+in her favour.
+
+"But," he continues, "there was your _intention_!  That, at any rate,
+remains the same.  You were saved from putting it into practice only
+by a sudden impulse.  What that impulse was of course I do not know.
+Perhaps you were afraid--just too much of a coward to carry out what
+you had been ready enough to plan.  I have heard of such people
+criminals at heart but too poor-spirited to become criminals in act."
+
+"Oh, do you think _that_?" Norah cries protestingly.  "This is the
+cruellest thing you have said to me yet!  But I have no right to
+complain."
+
+"No, Norah," answers the cold calm voice.  "I take back those words.
+I have no right to say them I might have known that it was not fear
+that stayed your hand, whatever else it may have been.  Let us say it
+was your better nature asserting itself.  But, all the same, you were
+able to give your consent and aid to this evil plan in its beginning.
+And--you would have married me and concealed all this!"
+
+"I do not think so," replies the girl with deliberation equal to his
+own.  "No, I am sure I should not have done that.  Our engagement has
+not been a long one," she says this with a bitter smile--"but if it
+had lasted a little longer I should soon have made a clean breast of
+everything to you--yes, even if the ship had not been lost.  I should
+have told you everything; and our parting would have taken place only
+a little later, that is all!"
+
+"But why," the frenzied lover cannot help but ask--for he is still
+the lover, even though he has become the judge also--"why then did
+you not tell me all when first you saw me this afternoon?  It would
+have been more honest if you had confessed then, instead of allowing
+me to continue being deceived in you and to find out the truth only
+by chance!"
+
+Norah hangs her head, and makes no reply.
+
+"What reason had you for this?" he urges again.
+
+Then she tells him--"It was because I wanted to have your love just
+for a little time.  I knew that I must lose it soon.  And this was my
+only chance.  I took it--and I am glad I did so.  I have been yours
+for an hour, and you have loved and believed in me.  Now it is over;
+and, for the rest, I will not shrink from what the future may hold."
+
+There is silence between the two for the space of nearly a minute.
+The evening sky is darkening and a threatening bank of clouds is
+beginning to overshadow the western heavens.  A chilly breeze has
+sprung up and sweeps across the heather with a mournful sound.
+
+Stapleton turns to go.  Love and faith have died within him and have
+left him devoid of feeling.
+
+"Well, it seems to me that there is nothing more to be said between
+us," is his parting word; and then, in a kindlier tone, "you had
+better go indoors; it is clouding over, and you will be getting wet
+soon if you stay out here.  I kept my boat waiting for me; it is a
+good thing that I did so."
+
+This is his good-bye--a sorry farewell to love!  Not even one tender
+word to pay a last tribute to his vanished dream of happiness.
+Perhaps deep down in his mind lies some torturing thought that the
+girl whom he must hand over to justice is the girl whom for a brief
+while he has loved; but if such a thought exists, he gives it no
+utterance.
+
+Without another glance at Norah, he turns and walks slowly away
+towards the landing-place.  Norah stands like a pillar of
+marble--yes, and white as marble is the girl's face; she follows him
+with her eyes, and not till he is quite out of sight does she stir
+from her motionless attitude.  Then, with a little staggering forward
+step she flings out her arms towards the vanished figure as if to
+draw him back to her.  Only for a moment; the sense of her
+helplessness and hopelessness comes suddenly home to her, and letting
+fall her hands despairingly she flings herself on the ground in an
+agony of grief and shame.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+It is very trying, to say the least of it, to be overwhelmed by the
+waves and storms of one fierce emotion after another, and to be left
+finally stranded well-nigh lifeless on the shores of desolation and
+despair.  But it is still more trying, under such painful
+circumstances, to be obliged to behave oneself as if nothing
+particular has occurred and to have to meet one's friends with a
+complacent expression and talk to them in a well-behaved ordinary
+manner.
+
+Such, however, is the case with Norah, as she makes her way back to
+the hut.  How she manages to find her way there over the rough ground
+in the fading light, her eyes half blinded with tears, is something
+which she herself certainly could not account for.  But she does find
+her path, somehow; and, when nearing the end of it, comes face to
+face with good Mrs. Shaw, who has set out to meet her, anxious about
+her charge and prepared to give her a motherly scolding for staying
+out of doors too long.
+
+Norah is thankful that it is already too dark for her face to be seen
+very clearly, and furtively dries her eyes as she prepares to listen
+to Mrs. Shaw; luckily, it is quite certain that the loquacious lady
+will undertake most of the talking!
+
+"You bad girl," begins the kindly voice, "to stay out to such an hour
+when I told you that you were only to be out for a little while!  You
+will be catching a cold and getting ill again and I don't know what!
+Ah; it's no good saying you won't!"--Norah, be it noticed, has not
+said a word--"I know you _will_!  But, bless me, you young things are
+all alike; while you are healthy and strong you think you can do
+anything and laugh at a body who tells you you can't play with your
+health without paying for it!  Wait till you come to my age, my
+dear--wait till you have your first touch of rheumatism!  But I
+suppose you notice nothing when you are in the company of a fine
+handsome young man.  And quite right too--you can only be young but
+once!  Dear me, what am I saying?  I ought to be scolding you, and
+instead of that--by the way, where is he?  What have you done with
+him?"
+
+"He had to get back," lamely answers the girl in a thin piping voice.
+
+"Had to get back did he?  Hm!  I should think so--spending the best
+part of the afternoon philandering with a pretty girl; a nice way to
+employ his time, when there's a war on!  If all young naval officers
+idle their days like that it's a wonder the navy gets along at all!
+But I can't be angry with Alick.  He's a sad dog, but a dear--don't
+you think so?  Isn't he just the sort of man that any girl might lose
+her heart to?"
+
+"Oh, I don't know, Mrs. Shaw, yes--no, I mean.  I'm sorry--I'm afraid
+I wasn't listening,"--which is not quite true, for, Norah has heard
+only too well and feels her heart torn by the idle question.  She
+feigns tiredness as an excuse for not making any more coherent
+reply--and it is not entirely feigning, for she stumbles a little in
+her walk and is glad enough to support herself on Mrs. Shaw's kindly
+arm.
+
+So the good woman pilots her charge to the hut, and together they
+seek the friendly shelter of the room where Netta is lying.
+
+And, oh, how Norah longs to be left alone with her cousin!  For she
+must tell her of the dreadful thing that has happened in the
+discovery of her secret, and must warn her of the danger that
+threatens the three of them.  Perhaps, even she may find some counsel
+in Netta--if any counsel can be of avail in such a desperate case!
+
+But for some time the uninterrupted flow of words proceeding from the
+well-meaning lady's lips leaves little hope of a conversation in
+private.  Mrs. Shaw vents her solicitude for her two patients in a
+ceaseless torrent of remarks, questions and commands, all of the
+kindest nature but almost unendurable to the two girls whose chief
+desire is to be left alone together.
+
+"There now," exclaims the smiling dame, as she plies her patients
+with steaming hot soup, "that will make you look a little bit
+brighter by the time the admiral sees you again.  He told me he
+should look in here on his way back.  I don't know what he would say
+to me if he saw you looking as white as you are now!"
+
+At last the good but somewhat trying lady fusses out of the room,
+having suddenly thought of some other nourishing concoction which she
+can prepare for the further invigoration of the two girls, and she
+leaves them free to talk, much to Norah's relief; and to Netta's
+also, for she has seen that some matter is troubling her cousin.
+
+Norah is not long in pouring forth her story, to which the other girl
+listens with the utmost concern.
+
+Netta is horrified, as Norah had been, to learn the dread news of the
+loss of the _Marathon_ with so many lives.  At first she could hardly
+believe it, having been so confident that Patrick's purpose had been
+foiled at the last; but she is unwillingly forced to give credit to
+the terrible story, and great indeed is her grief.  From the very
+first, it must be remembered, she had been drawn into the conspiracy
+largely against her own conviction and consent.
+
+But it is noteworthy that her chief concern is for her cousin,
+Norah--just as Norah's is for her.  These two girls, both of them
+brave enough to face the consequences of their own misdoings, are
+both cowards in respect of each other's peril.
+
+"What is to be done?" Norah asks, thinking inwardly how she can
+shield Netta.
+
+"We must try and think of some plan," answers Netta, eager to light
+upon some means of securing Norah's immunity.
+
+"How dreadfully unfortunate that Baynes should have happened by
+chance to be sent to this place," Norah broods; "surely it was more
+than a coincidence--it was the hand of Fate that sent him!"
+
+"He was very good to me in Glasgow," muses Netta; and there is a
+certain purpose in her apparently idle reminiscence, though she keeps
+her meaning to herself and does not let Norah into the secret of her
+meditations.
+
+"Is there _nothing_ you can think of?" implores the other, impatient
+at Netta for allowing her thoughts to stray inconsequently to the
+handsome young seaman at such a crisis.  "Can't you suggest any plan
+at all?"
+
+It is strange how the stronger mind seems to lean now for support
+upon the weaker; Norah's gnawing anxiety for her cousin's safety has
+taken all the strength from her.
+
+"There is only one thing I can think of," Netta meditates aloud, "and
+even that doesn't seem to hold out much hope."
+
+"Oh, what is it?"
+
+"_Come in, Admiral, come in._"
+
+Mrs. Shaw's voice again!  The poor girls are never to get the chance
+of a quiet talk, it seems!
+
+"This way, Admiral.  You will find them both considerably the better
+for their afternoon's rest, I think, though, I must confess I should
+have liked to see them a little less pale.  This one
+especially--isn't she a bad girl, to go walking over the moor and
+tiring herself out when I expressly told her to take care of herself?"
+
+"Well, young lady, I hope you've not been doing too much," says the
+admiral, all courtesy and smiles.
+
+"I shall want you both to assist me to-morrow if you think you feel
+strong enough."
+
+"To assist you, sir?" queries Norah, vaguely disturbed by a
+foreboding of more troubles in store.
+
+"Yes, if you will be so good.  But nothing to cause you any great
+distress.  Only a few questions we should like to put to you in
+connection with--with your recent experiences, and that sort of
+thing."
+
+This is very disturbing and alarming!  Surely, the report already
+given by Patrick ought to be enough: but as Norah suddenly remembers,
+that report was made to the captain of the _Marathon_--and the
+_Marathon_ now rests, with her captain, in the grave of the seas.
+
+Mrs. Shaw attempts to come to the rescue, jealous of any official
+interference with the two girls whom she regards as her own especial
+care.
+
+"You will excuse me, Admiral," she says, "but if you will allow me to
+say so, I never heard such nonsense in all my life!  Question them,
+indeed!  You men are all alike, naval officers and the rest of
+you--you must make a fuss with your stupid enquiries and official
+investigations and stuff!  What do you want to ask, I should like to
+know?  Can't you leave the poor creatures in peace and give them a
+chance to pick up their strength after all they have been through?
+Questions!  Stuff and nonsense!"
+
+"Now, my dear Mrs. Shaw," smiles Admiral Darlington, who knows well
+the good lady's humour, "there is not the slightest occasion for you
+to scold me or to be alarmed on the young ladies' account.  All that
+I have to say to them will not take long, and will, I trust, put them
+to very little inconvenience."
+
+"Then why can't you say it here?" snaps Mrs. Shaw, far from being
+calmed down.
+
+"Unfortunately, that is impossible.  I have not altogether a free
+hand in these matters, and there are certain formalities and official
+methods to be observed which I am unable to dispense with.  But
+everything shall be done for the comfort of your two patients, I
+assure you."
+
+"Is there anything"--turning from Mrs. Shaw to the two
+girls--"anything you would wish for that I can do?  You can command
+everybody and everything in the place, you know, or at least I can do
+it for you."
+
+"Nothing, sir, thank you," answers Norah.  "Oh, yes, I should like to
+see my cousin, Mr. Sheridan, early to-morrow morning, if possible."
+
+"Hm!"  The admiral seems ever so slightly worried at this apparently
+simple request.  But he answers:
+
+"Yes, you can see him, certainly.  But you won't mind, perhaps, if
+you have to wait a little.  Yes, I can promise you that you shall see
+him."
+
+Norah is content with the reply.
+
+"And you?" continues the admiral, turning to Netta, "is there
+anything that you would like?"
+
+"If you please, sir," she says, "I have just heard that there is a
+man here whom I used to know once upon a time, and I should very much
+like to see him, this evening if it could be arranged."
+
+Norah's face falls.  What is Netta asking?  Is she going to be rash
+enough to court danger needlessly?
+
+"I have no doubt that can be arranged," replies Admiral Darlington,
+with much more readiness than he had shown in granting Norah's
+similar request.  "What is the man's name?  What ship is he in?"
+
+"I don't know his ship," Netta tells him, "but his name is Baynes,
+Dick Baynes.  He is an able seaman."
+
+"Now, how can we find out where to get hold of him?" muses the
+admiral.
+
+Mrs. Shaw solves the problem.  "I think I can tell you that.  I
+remember hearing the name, quite well, from a friend of his at the
+signal station.  Baynes is not in a ship at all.  He is employed
+ashore here, if I am not mistaken, in one of the searchlight parties."
+
+"If that is the case we shall be able to find him very easily, and
+you shall certainly see him this evening.  I will have him sent here
+quite soon.  He will be greatly flattered to be invited to talk over
+old times with you, I am sure."
+
+"Thank you, sir; thank you very much, indeed."
+
+The emphatic tone of relief in Netta's words of thanks causes Norah
+to wonder greatly.  Can this so strongly-desired meeting with Baynes
+have anything to do with the plan which Netta was about to unfold
+when she was interrupted?
+
+Admiral Darlington rises to take his leave, bidding a cheery good
+night to the two pretty girls with whom, no doubt, he would very much
+like to stay and chat for the rest of the evening; for he has a soft
+heart for the ladies, especially the pretty ones, has this gallant
+officer.
+
+Outside the door he gives one last injunction to Mrs. Shaw:
+
+"If possible, I wish to keep from them all knowledge of the
+_Marathon's_ loss until to-morrow.  There is no occasion for them to
+be caused needless distress; so be careful not to let slip any hint
+of it, Mrs. Shaw, won't you?"
+
+"You needn't tell me that, admiral," she answers snappily.  "It isn't
+from me that they are likely to get anything to worry them."
+
+And with this Parthian shot she retreats within the hut.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+"No, Norah dear, I would rather see him alone, thank you."
+
+"But won't you tell me what your plan is?"
+
+This, also, Netta refuses.  For the very good reason that she has no
+plan; that is, nothing definite.  Only she has a vague idea that
+their sole hope--and a very faint hope, too--lies in Dick Baynes.  He
+may not be able to suggest any means of help; but if he cannot, there
+is no one else who can.
+
+The stalwart young seaman, on entering the room, finds Netta Sheridan
+looking a very picture.
+
+He does not know--how should he--that she has taken a good deal of
+pains to produce this effect.  All the electric lights except one
+have been turned out, and this one is selected to cast a soft light
+on the girl as she reclines gracefully on a couch, leaving the rest
+of the room in shadow.
+
+So Baynes, when he comes in, has his eyes directed at once towards a
+very attractive _tableau vivant_.  There are soft glints of light
+reflected in the girl's ashen-gold hair, and a pair of pleading grey
+eyes shine on him very effectively.
+
+"You've sent for me, miss?"--the man speaks in an awed hushed voice,
+like a devotee before his idol in a temple.
+
+"Yes, Baynes--Dick.  I thought that I should like to see you again
+and talk to you."
+
+She had never called him "Dick" before, not in all those happy days
+in Glasgow!
+
+Is it a matter for wonder that after a few more doses of this
+diplomatic kind, Baynes is easily reduced to the state of mind which
+Netta desires?
+
+But the girl has no intention of wasting time; idle dalliance is a
+thing she has no use for, except so far as it can serve her purpose;
+and to her purpose she presently comes.
+
+"Now I want your advice and help, Dick, in a very difficult
+situation," she tells him.  "It was partly for this reason that I
+asked you to come."
+
+"Yes, miss?  If there is anything I can do, you can depend on me to
+do it.  Tell me what it is."
+
+"Well, it's just this."  Having come to the point, Netta finds some
+difficulty in expressing herself.  There is such a very little that
+will bear telling.  Baynes must not know a single word about the
+conspiracy to blow up the _Marathon_.  It is sincerely to be hoped
+that he has not yet heard the news that the ship is lost; but even if
+he has heard this, he must be kept from all suspicion of any
+connection between that disaster and the presence of the Sheridans'
+party at the base.
+
+"It's just this," she repeats.  "I can't tell you everything, you
+know, because it's such a delicate matter.  If I keep anything from
+you, it is because I think I ought not to tell it, and you must just
+trust me.  _Can_ you trust me?"
+
+"You know I can, miss," thrills the deep-toned reply.  "I would trust
+you with my life!"
+
+The dark sweeping eyelashes are raised to let a languorous look of
+gratitude escape from the grey eyes and in an instant are lowered
+again.
+
+"It is about Norah.  She is in very great danger.  She has met
+someone here this afternoon, an officer, who has somehow managed to
+discover a secret of her past life which she would give anything to
+keep from him."
+
+"Yes, miss?  Well, I am sure it can't be anything shameful, whatever
+it is.  Does it matter so very much?"
+
+"It matters very much, indeed; it is almost a matter of life and
+death.  And the dreadful part of it is that he is sure to go and tell
+the admiral at the earliest possible opportunity."
+
+"He ought to be stopped, miss."
+
+"Yes, of course he ought.  But"--with a smile of engaging
+frankness--"are you quite sure you ought to be listening to me?
+Don't you think we may be spies, all three of us?"
+
+An indignant protest is his answer to this, and more protestations of
+the most complete trust.
+
+"If any means could be found of preventing this Mr. Stapleton--that
+is the officer's name--from telling the admiral what he has found out
+about Norah, she would never cease to be grateful to you."
+
+Dick Baynes does not appear greatly impressed.  Netta remarks this
+fact.
+
+"And _I_ should be more than grateful, too," she adds.
+
+"Would you?"  A very different look comes over the man's face.
+
+"Yes, of course I should.  But can you suggest any means of stopping
+his mouth?"
+
+"Only one, miss," Baynes replies, revolving the matter slowly in his
+simple mind.  "I'm a pretty strong chap, you know; I might have to
+hurt him a little--nothing to speak of, you know, only just enough to
+lay him up for a few days, till you can get away back to Glasgow."
+
+Netta is horrified at the idea.
+
+"How dare you suggest such a thing?" she cries, flushing with
+indignation.  "What!  Do you think that I should allow you to--to
+play the part of the hired assassin----"
+
+"I didn't say _kill_ him, miss; I only meant that I would put him out
+of action, so to speak, for a little while," murmurs the man
+apologetically.
+
+"Well, to act the bully and ruffian, then.  It is much the same
+thing.  I am disappointed in you, Mr. Baynes.  I did think that a man
+of your intelligence and cleverness might be able to find some means
+of helping me out of a difficulty.  But never mind!  I dare say I
+have alarmed myself needlessly--the troubles one frets and worries
+over often vanish when the time comes, don't they?  And if not--well,
+it's only two girls that will have to suffer.  Thank you all the
+same."
+
+This is quite unendurable.  Baynes becomes on the instant a limp and
+crushed mass of denials, protests, and eager avowals that he will do
+anything his idol desires of him and nothing she objects to; that her
+wishes are all and all to him, and that she must pardon him for even
+imagining she meant him to use brute force--of course such an idea
+was far below her--and so on and so forth.  To put it shortly, he is
+brought to just such a state of mind as Netta intended him to be.
+
+She rewards and pacifies him with a smile, and graciously takes him
+into favour again.
+
+No question about it, a censorious world would pronounce the opinion
+that Netta was not quite nice, judging from the part she is playing
+at present; but it must be remembered in her defence that she is
+fighting for one who is very dear to her, her wilful, headstrong
+cousin Norah, who is too brave and fearless to do anything for her
+own safety.
+
+"I promise you, miss, that I will think of something that will put
+matters right for you and Miss Norah.  Only you took me rather sudden
+like; when I turn it over in my mind a bit I shall find some way to
+manage it, never fear!"  With such words Baynes endeavours to
+reinstate himself in Netta's good graces.
+
+"But you must do it at once; there is no time to waste," she urges
+him.
+
+"Certainly, miss, that's right.  I quite see that."  But his actions
+did not bear out his words, for he makes no motion to go away, but on
+the contrary draws rather nearer to the anxious girl.
+
+"Then why don't you go?" she asks bluntly.  Having gained her
+purpose, Netta is unable to see any reason why the interview should
+be prolonged.
+
+Dick Baynes, however, does not see matters in quite the same light.
+
+"Because I want to know what my reward is to be if I do this for
+you," he answers.
+
+Netta's pretty mouth curls contemptuously.  "What?" she taunts him.
+"You want payment?  I thought you would help me out of friendship!"
+
+"For friendship?  No--but for love!" he cries in a voice vibrating
+with passion.  "That is all the payment I require, and that you must
+and shall give me!"
+
+With a rapid stride he comes to her and kneels beside her couch,
+taking her into his arms.  She neither repels him nor accepts his
+rough caresses, but remains listless, cold and indifferent.
+
+To tell the truth, she is just a little bit frightened--frightened,
+and still more annoyed.  She did not expect this development, and is
+not at all pleased with it.
+
+Women are like this occasionally; they play with fire, and are quite
+shocked to make the discovery that fire burns.
+
+It is very pretty and feminine and all that sort of thing to adopt a
+seductive manner, but the lady who does so ought not to be altogether
+unprepared to find herself successful as a seductress.
+
+Netta has been willing to make use of her handsome sailor as a
+convenient machine; it comes upon her like a cold douche to find that
+he is a man!
+
+And a real live warm-blooded man, strong and forceful in his desires
+and most insistent in his manner of expressing them.
+
+He has cast all diffidence to the winds now.  Forgetting his present
+position and the difference in their respective stations, forgetting
+everything else, he only remembers that she is a woman and that he
+loves her.
+
+"I am hungry for you, Netta," he cries, his simple, homely speech
+setting forth his appeal far dearer than any finer phrases could
+do--"hungry for you, and 'tis none but you can still the aching in my
+heart!  'Tis you alone I want, and I have wanted you since first I
+saw you.  Give me yourself and I am yours to do what you will with!"
+
+His strong arms press the girl close to his heart and he rains
+passionate kisses upon her face.
+
+With an effort Netta succeeds in releasing herself, pushing him
+gently away; not angrily, with the hot indignation of an outraged
+maiden, nor yet coquettishly as one who would by a feigned repulse
+encourage further advances; simply, she does not greatly care.  This
+unforeseen turn of events strikes her as rather a nuisance, that is
+all; it introduces an element that may interfere with her plans.
+Yet, on the other hand, it may have its uses; so it is as well to
+take up a non-committal attitude.
+
+"Is this quite honourable?" she asks coldly, "to take advantage of my
+distress and to make a bargain with me for my love?"
+
+"Honourable or not," comes his ready answer, "it is the only chance I
+have with you, and I am going to take it.  I know well that you would
+never listen to me if it were not for this, and you must not blame a
+desperate man if he makes use of the power that chance puts into his
+hands.  I want you, and I am going to have you for my own!"
+
+Netta looks closely at him.  The man is so terribly in earnest.  His
+fine, handsome face is lighted up with the kindling fires of his
+love, and in his eyes tenderness and eagerness are clashing in
+conflict.  No doubt he is a fine figure of a man, and if a girl
+should fall in love for good looks alone, she need not go further
+than this very impetuous and ardent sailor.
+
+She gives a tiny sigh, so small that it escapes her lover's notice.
+But that sigh means a great deal.  It means, "If I had no other
+matters to think about, and if I felt myself capable of loving any
+one and if this man were not what he is, and if----"
+
+A greater "if" than all these still confronts her; if she does not
+consent to his bargain, then she cannot hope that he will make the
+effort to save Norah.  This has to be faced at once, and there is
+only one way of facing it.
+
+"Tell me, girl, tell me," urges her seaman lover again, seizing both
+her hands and forcing her eyes to meet his own, "do you agree?  If I
+help you, will you give me your promise to be mine?  I will trust
+you.  I know you will keep your word.  Otherwise----"
+
+He does not finish his sentence.
+
+"I suppose so," Netta's consent, given in a low whisper, is not very
+encouraging, but Baynes appears to be content with it.
+
+"Then seal the bargain with me," he cries.  Netta coldly turns her
+cheek towards him, as a girl might do for the chaste salute of an
+aged priest or a maiden aunt.
+
+"No," exclaims the sailor, "that will not do for me.  If you are
+going to give me yourself, you must give me an earnest of it now."
+
+There is no doubt as to his meaning; indeed, he helps her to
+understand, by placing both his big, strong hands upon that mass of
+pale gold hair coiled on her head, and drawing her lips to his own
+eager ones.
+
+It seems an eternity before he releases her.  An eternity which
+gradually blackens into an eternity of shame.  She would struggle and
+escape from it, but she is held as though in a vice.
+
+When her seared lips are at last set free, she falls back upon the
+couch, her cheeks burning red and her eyes ready to burst into tears.
+
+"Now go!" she says briefly, and in such a tone that Baynes is wise
+enough to obey at once without another word.
+
+And when the door closes behind him, then the bitter tears fall
+indeed, as Netta realises what a price she has paid and still must
+pay for the bargain she has made.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+And yet Dick Baynes, in concluding his side of the bargain, has but
+gambled with fate quite blindly.  To gain the love of this woman of
+his desires he will agree to anything--has agreed, in fact.  But how
+is he to fulfil his part of the contract?
+
+That is a question he is scarcely able to answer.  And as he gets out
+into the cold open air and his passionate humour cools down a little,
+he begins to realise with much mortification how big a job it is that
+he has let himself in for, a much bigger job, indeed, than he feels
+himself able to tackle.
+
+There is an officer to be traced, concerning whom he knows little
+more than his name and appearance--not even what ship he belongs to
+or where he is to be found.
+
+And this officer has to be persuaded not to give to the admiral
+certain information which he is probably fully determined to give.
+
+Truly, it is a big problem for an able seaman who is tied by his duty
+to the island!
+
+To make the problem harder still, it must be solved at once.  If
+there is any delay, nothing will be of any use.
+
+Baynes is reminded of the fairy stories he used to read when a child,
+in which a poor lad was given such tasks as that of emptying a lake
+during the night with a teaspoon full of holes.  This present task,
+when looked at in the cold light of reason, appears just as
+impossible.
+
+Moreover, in these childish stories there was always a good fairy in
+disguise who came to the rescue of the poor lad and helped him to
+perform the impossible task to perfection; but there is precious
+little chance of a good fairy turning up at the opportune moment to
+assist Dick Baynes.
+
+So this unhappy wretch, bound by a promise which he is quite unable
+to fulfil, and tantalised by hopes of a reward which he can never
+earn, walks away from the hut into the darkness of the night and
+wanders aimlessly about the island, a prey to his most distracting
+thoughts.
+
+He knows not whither he goes, but simply lets his torturing fancies
+lead him whither they will.
+
+Netta of the grey eyes and ashen-gold hair, Netta of the soft
+alluring voice and winsome ways, the girl who fills every thought of
+his days and every dream of his nights--Netta he must have for his
+very own; and Netta he knows he can never have, since the rash pledge
+he has made to her is one which he has not the slightest chance of
+redeeming; and to that pledge she will hold him, or deny herself.
+
+Brooding darkly over this maze of circumstances from which there is
+no possible escape, Baynes comes to the edge of the cliff near to
+where the pathway runs down to the landing-place.
+
+It is still night, and the sea is quite calm.  The rising moon is
+beginning to light up with silver the unruffled surface of the water.
+
+A sound falls on Dick's ears as he stands there, in his perplexity
+and looks idly out over the waters, a regular rhythmic sound of oars
+jarring against rowlocks and of the slight splash made by the blades
+dipping into the water at each stroke.
+
+The sound comes nearer, though as yet the boat is not in sight.  It
+is not very loud, either; evidently it comes from quite a small boat,
+a skiff probably, or perhaps a whaler; certainly not a cutter--there
+is not noise enough for that.
+
+Then a dim light twinkles, low down on the surface of the sea.  It
+glows brighter each moment, and is presently seen to be a boat's
+lantern in the bows of a skiff manned by a single rower.
+
+Baynes still remains watching, out of idle curiosity; in fact, he is
+so much wrapped up in his own concerns that he can scarcely be said
+to watch at all.  His eyes see, but his mind takes in little or
+nothing.
+
+The solitary oarsman makes his boat fast by the side of the little
+pier that runs out at the foot of the cliffs, comes ashore, and,
+taking the boat's lantern in his hand, walks rapidly up the hill.
+
+From his lower position he has no difficulty in seeing the motionless
+figure of Dick Baynes standing silhouetted against the skyline.  He
+gives him a hail on reaching the top of the path, and makes straight
+towards him.
+
+He raises his lantern as he approaches so as to see the man he is
+about to speak to, and at once puts the question to him:
+
+"Have you seen the admiral anywhere, my man?  Do you know if he has
+left the island yet?"
+
+The lantern which is held up to give the speaker a view of Dick
+Baynes' face also lights up his own.  And in the light of that
+lantern Baynes sees a sight which sets his brain in a whirl.
+
+He is face to face with Lieutenant-Commander Stapleton.
+
+No miracle has happened to bring about this strange meeting, so much
+desired by one of the two men at least yet so utterly unhoped for and
+improbable.  It simply happens as the natural result of a most
+ordinary chain of circumstances.
+
+This is the way of it.  Stapleton, on leaving the island, has taken
+his steamboat straight to the spot where stands, on another islet,
+the group of official buildings amongst which is the house used as
+the headquarters of the admiral in charge of the base.
+
+He makes inquiries for the admiral, feeling that the news he has to
+impart is of such importance that it can be told to no one else.  It
+is not usual, no doubt, for a mere lieutenant-commander to deal
+directly with an officer of flag rank in matters affecting purely
+naval and not merely personal affairs; but this is a matter of such
+consequence that Stapleton feels no hesitation in breaking through
+the ordinary routine; moreover, there is no time to be lost--the
+court of enquiry is due to be held to-morrow morning.
+
+Greatly to his annoyance, he is told that the admiral has not yet
+returned to his house.  The secretary, however, is back, and would
+Mr. Stapleton like to see him instead?
+
+Mr. Stapleton would.  So Dimsdale appears, but is not able to throw
+very much light upon the admiral's movements; he was ashore tins
+afternoon, but his barge was sent for him an hour ago.  As the barge
+has not yet returned, it is probable the admiral is still on the
+island where he has been taking a walk; on the other hand, he may
+have left the island and gone to some other ship; he does this
+sometimes, in fact there is no knowing what he may do; he is in the
+habit of setting aside this part of the day for recreation, and does
+not settle down to official work again till after dinner, or, as a
+third alternative, the barge may have gone round to the other side of
+the island to wait for the admiral.
+
+Does Stapleton want to see the admiral urgently?
+
+Stapleton does.  Very urgently indeed.
+
+Then, says Dimsdale, it is difficult to know what course to
+recommend.  The admiral is dining afloat to-night, and has a meeting
+to attend to afterwards which will keep him till close on midnight.
+
+Stapleton comes away fuming with impatience.  He has already kept his
+steamboat longer than he ought to have done, and must get back at
+once to the ship where he is being accommodated for the time being.
+
+Arriving there, he is perhaps fortunate in finding the
+officer-of-the-watch a man very much junior to himself, and so
+escapes the cursing which he deserves for being so inconsiderate as
+to keep the one steamboat such a long time; and although he makes
+suitable apologies for his unwarranted behaviour, he feels that the
+young sub-lieutenant at the head of the gangway regards him with
+malevolent disfavour.  And as if to drive home the extent of his
+shortcomings, the steamboat's crew are ordered to shove off at once
+and do the next trip, which they ought to have done an hour ago.
+
+Stapleton smiles ruefully, remembering well the similar worries of
+his own watch-keeping days.  He has not the heart to ask for anything
+more than a skiff, though he feels that he can do no less than make
+his way back to the island and seek the admiral there.
+
+And meanwhile, blissfully unconscious of being so much in request,
+the admiral has sent a message back to his barge with orders to go
+round and wait for him at the southern side of the island, as
+Dimsdale has suggested he may have done; and, after saying good night
+to Norah and Netta in the hut, has walked across the island in the
+gathering twilight and thence gone afloat and taken the long
+sea-route home.  This explains why Stapleton on coming down to the
+landing-place found no other boat except his own waiting there, and
+so concluded that the admiral must have returned to his house.
+
+The request for the skiff is readily granted, though the
+sub-lieutenant on watch thinks to himself that this guest with the
+two-and-a-half stripes on his arm is a regular whale for boat trips.
+However, Stapleton propitiates him by stating that he will not
+require any hands to man the skiff, but will go alone and use the
+sculls.  It is better so, on the whole, he reflects.  Secrecy is very
+desirable on such a mission as his, and even the anxiety which is
+bound to be shown in his face may give too much away.  Better be
+alone.
+
+So, pulling the skiff by himself across the placid waters to the
+distant island, he makes for the pier at the landing-place and there
+makes fast his boat.
+
+Stepping ashore, he is still at a loss as to what course to pursue in
+his search; perhaps it will be best to go first to the hut and there
+to make enquiries; after that, if no news is obtainable there, the
+only thing left to do will be to walk across the island to the other
+landing place and see if the admiral's barge is still there or not.
+
+Ha!  There is a man standing at the top of the cliff.  This will be
+some one to enquire of, at any rate; and no chance must be overlooked.
+
+So Stapleton walks up to the man and raises his lantern.
+
+And he recognises, as he puts his question, the man whose fatal
+interruption this very afternoon, has parted him and Norah for ever
+and set afoot all this fearful trouble.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+Dick Baynes is a man of strong passions but few ideas.  His friends
+sometimes described him as a man whose heart was stronger than his
+head, and he did not resent the description but rather gloried in it.
+After all, ideas can be bought for base coin, but the finer feelings
+are a man's own inheritance, and can neither be purchased nor
+bartered away.  And Baynes was intelligent enough to deal with all
+the matters of his ordinary life and routine--and what can a man want
+more than that?
+
+It was in the extraordinary affairs of life that he was apt to fail;
+or rather, not to fail so much as to be just a little bit slow in
+adapting himself to the problems of the moment.
+
+It is certainly a very unusual problem which he is now suddenly
+called upon to solve.
+
+The kind fairy of the story-books has not indeed taken the whole of
+his difficult task put of his hands and completed it for him; perhaps
+her power has weakened somewhat in the many centuries that have
+elapsed since the golden age; but it cannot be denied that she has
+worked to the best of her ability, or at least as much as could be
+expected of her, in bringing Lieutenant-Commander Stapleton face to
+face with Baynes in this most unexpected fashion.
+
+Now it is up to Baynes to solve the remaining part of the problem for
+himself.
+
+Unfortunately, his brain is only able to light upon one solution--the
+one which he has already suggested to Netta, thereby rousing her to a
+horror-stricken remonstrance.
+
+Well, he quieted her then by a promise, easily made and as easily
+accepted; but is such a promise to hold good?
+
+If he breaks it, need she ever know?  Or if she does get to know,
+will she mind so very much when the deed is done if she sees that her
+purpose is thereby effected?
+
+Besides, what alternative is there?  Of course, Baynes does not mean
+to do any lasting bodily harm.  He knows his great strength, and is
+confident that he can use it to a nicety, as he has so often done in
+the boxing ring; he can deal a man a blow that would slay a bullock,
+or on the other hand he can give a novice just such a gentle tap as
+to make him believe that he is really putting up a serious fight; for
+Baynes is a good sportsman.
+
+Yes, but this is not a very sporting proposition that he is in for
+now!
+
+Well, it cannot be helped.  This officer's lips have to be closed for
+the next two or three days, and there is only this one way for Baynes
+to do the job; otherwise--Netta will never be his.
+
+_To do the job!_  An ugly sound in the expression!  And an ugly
+business it is, altogether.
+
+Baynes dislikes it more and more, as he stands facing the other man
+and deciding rapidly on what has to be done.
+
+"Can't you speak, my man?  What is the matter with you--why don't you
+answer my question?"  Baynes has been silent in his own unpleasant
+reflections, and Stapleton may perhaps be excused for a little
+impatience and irritation.
+
+The words snapped out in his face bring a bright idea to the sailor's
+mind--the one sole idea he has been able to light upon in all his
+difficulties.  And it is not such a bad idea either; rather a good
+one, in fact.
+
+_Can't you speak?  What is the matter with you?_ Well, the matter
+shall be, thinks Baynes, that I am _drunk_.  That is why I cannot
+answer his question, and that will help to explain why I am in a
+fighting mood.
+
+It is much to Baynes' credit that he does not even for a moment think
+that this may also help later to lighten the punishment that is bound
+to come to him.  He is too good a fellow, too much of a sportsman, to
+entertain such an idea.  Having determined in his course of action he
+means to see it through and does not waste a moment in thinking about
+the consequences to himself.
+
+And mind you, he regrets very much the necessity that is laid upon
+him.  He does not want in the least to harm this officer, he has not
+the slightest personal grudge against him.  But, there it is; it is a
+necessity, or his passion has made it so.
+
+He begins therefore to act his part, and lurches heavily against the
+man facing him; who steps aside, so that the seaman feigns to stumble
+and almost falls.
+
+"Pull yourself together, you fool," Stapleton not unkindly bids him.
+"You're all right, if you'll make up your mind to it.  I want to ask
+you an important question, so buck up and listen to me!"
+
+"Don' wan' any queshuns," burbles the drunken man, "an' don' wan' any
+lip from you!  So look out for y'shelf!" and with the words he aims a
+blow at the other's face.
+
+Stapleton steps aside just in time to avoid the clumsy blow, and
+again speaks to the man, a good deal more sharply this time.
+
+It is to no purpose that he speaks.  The man comes for him again; he
+is evidently fighting drunk.  And once more Stapleton has to move
+pretty smartly to avoid a swinging blow.
+
+Now, his only course is to leave the man and retire.  There is
+nothing to be got out of him in this state.  It is a cursed nuisance,
+but it is only one more annoyance in a series of unhappy occurrences.
+
+All very well--but the man will not let him retreat so easily.  The
+intoxicated sailor comes after him and evidently means business.
+
+This must be stopped.  Stapleton dislikes the idea of striking one in
+an inferior position, and still more the idea of striking a man in
+liquor.  But it has to be done, or there will be more trouble.  So he
+turns and faces his pursuer, and stands to await the next onset.
+
+Nor has he long to wait; and when the lumbering seaman reaches for
+him he anticipates events by cleverly getting in a short punch with
+his left.
+
+But, to his great surprise, the blow fails to get home; it is met
+with all the skill of an old hand in the tactics of the ring, and a
+moment later Stapleton has to make use of all his wits to guard
+himself.  And the thought flashes across his mind that this sailor
+fights uncommonly cleverly for a drunken man!
+
+So he begins to take the affair more seriously, and puts a little
+more effort into his attempt to give the other fellow just enough to
+make him see reason and let him alone.
+
+Yet, as he goes on, he begins to realise more and more that he has
+rather to act on the defensive than otherwise.  The affair is
+developing into a bigger thing than he thought--and how the deuce is
+it going to end?
+
+But Baynes also is not free from a big surprise.  He has not reckoned
+with the chance of being up against another boxing man, and he finds
+himself now fighting a man whose strength and skill in ringcraft are
+undoubtedly almost equal to his own!
+
+The strange fight goes on in a weird silence, beneath the light of
+the moon; sometimes, indeed, they actually have to stop while the
+darkness of an overshadowing cloud makes it impossible to do more
+than dimly descry the vague outlines of each other's form.  The blood
+of both is up, and there is no question now of the one trying to
+avoid the other.  Instead, they make use of these short spells of
+semi-darkness while the swift clouds fly across the moon as intervals
+between rounds, by mutual unspoken consent.
+
+Now, on the moonlight reappearing, they are at it again, fighting
+warily, and with all the skill they can command.  There is no sound
+but that of their quick and labouring breath, and now and then of a
+smothered grunt as a blow gets home.
+
+Both of them are getting badly punished.  It is impossible, in such a
+light, to ward off many a blow that could easily have been avoided
+had it not been for this.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+Although he is faced with no mean antagonist, Baynes, without
+question, is slightly the better man of the two with his fists, as he
+is also the more powerful and has the longer reach.  And there is
+very little doubt that if the conditions of the fight were those of
+an ordinary contest the seaman would come off the victor, even though
+he might have to last several rounds before finally deciding the
+matter.
+
+As it is, however, the fickle chances of a fight in semi-darkness
+tend rather to equalise matters between the two.  In fact, fortune
+comes to the aid of the weaker man, and, aided by a cloud suddenly
+blotting out the light of the moon, Stapleton gets in a blow which
+the other fails to ward off.  The blow falls true on the mark, and
+Baynes goes reeling and stumbling to his knees.
+
+Now is Stapleton's chance to break away and get clear of this
+drunken, fighting fool; but no--he is far too much exhausted himself
+to do more than stand, with his arms hanging limp at his sides and
+his head bowed forward, heaving deep breaths in the effort to get his
+wind.
+
+Baynes is the first to recover.  He sees that he must make an end of
+the affair.  It is not proving so easy as he thought it would be to
+manhandle his antagonist to such an extent as to place him completely
+out of action for a few days.  He has no mind to prolong a mere
+blindfold boxing contest such as this is becoming and, what is more,
+his blood is now thoroughly roused, and the cautious scheming of his
+original plan has given place to the fierce fighting lust of the
+primitive man battling with his fellow savage.
+
+Yes, he must make an end of it--and the conventions of fair play and
+the rules of the game can go hang; the great thing is to finish the
+other man off--by any and all means possible.
+
+With this intent, Baynes springs to his feet again and makes for his
+man.  Stapleton stops his rush with a simultaneous right and left--or
+thinks to stop it.  But the primitive savage now raised in the big
+seaman takes little heed of these punishing body blows.  On he comes
+still and closes with his opponent, with one thought alone in his
+mind--to get him beaten.
+
+Stapleton feels himself locked in a pair of arms like steel cables;
+his legs are pinned--this is wrestling now, and foul wrestling at
+that!--and his body is being gradually forced back; he is taken
+unprepared.  He strains against the pressing weight of the heavier
+man; but strain as he may, he finds himself still being forced
+backwards, and feels that unless he can do something, and that
+quickly, in another minute his back will be broken.
+
+But it is not for nothing that Stapleton himself has done some pretty
+good wrestling in his time.  There are not many tricks of the game
+which he has not learnt and practised.
+
+He knows that the other man will be obliged to take breath in a
+second or two, and that then will be his opportunity.
+
+The moment comes, and with it a slight relaxing of the pressure.
+Then, as well he knows how, Stapleton cleverly slips downwards from
+the circling arms and gets half free.
+
+In a second the two are closed again, but this time neither can be
+said to have all the advantage on his side, it is more equal.
+
+They sway to and fro, and shift their feet rapidly, manœuvring to
+get a good hold.
+
+And neither of them takes notice of the fact that in their struggles
+they are getting dangerously near the edge of the cliff.
+
+Near it?  Good God, they are over!  Still heaving and struggling,
+locked in each other's arms, they come unseeing to the top of the
+precipitous bank overhanging the rocks on the foreshore.  The soft
+earth breaks away beneath their feet, and in the dark they cannot see
+to save themselves--indeed, it would be too late in any case, so
+little is either inclined to relax his deadly grip of the other.
+
+So the fight comes suddenly to an end--a tragic end.
+
+Tragic enough at least for one of them.  The heavier man falls
+underneath, and is dead as soon as he strikes the rocks below.  Dick
+Baynes, who an instant before was a fine, powerful creature of mighty
+muscles and quick stirring blood, a man full of life, able to love
+like a man and fight like a man--is now a lifeless lump of
+dehumanised clay, broken and bruised beyond recognition.
+
+This is what Netta, that delicate, fair, feminine thing, has won by
+her scheming.  True, she meant well: her only object was to save her
+cousin from a threatened danger and she had no thought the result of
+her own actions would ever be anything like this--but what sadder
+epitaph can be written over the grave of one's dead actions than
+these very words: "He meant well; he never thought!"
+
+Yet Netta must not be blamed too harshly; in truth, the mischief can
+be traced to a source much farther back than her own unthinking
+attempt at intrigue; it goes back to the evil brains of those who
+first planned the vile plot against the _Marathon_.  The death of
+honest Dick Baynes is but a later fruit of that noxious growth; and
+the strong poison of that evil weed is not even yet exhausted.
+
+* * * * *
+
+The young sub-lieutenant is beginning to be rather worried about the
+skiff, and very much annoyed with Lieutenant-Commander Stapleton for
+not coming back with it.
+
+"Confound the fellow," he says to himself, "first he takes away our
+one and only steam bus and keeps it all the afternoon as if he was a
+blighted admiral with a barge of his own, and then, if you please, he
+must go and borrow the skiff-dinghy and proceed to make a night of
+it!"
+
+It must be admitted that the officer of the watch has a certain
+amount of justification for his moan.  However, as soon as eight
+bells strike and he turns over to his relief who is to keep the first
+watch, he shifts his burden of trouble on to the shoulders of the
+next man and promptly dismisses the whole affair from his mind.
+After all, it is none of his business: and seeing that in the
+ordinary round of his daily care-worn existence it frequently falls
+to his lot to be obliged to take on the troubles and anxieties of
+other watch keepers, he is quite entitled to pass on his own worries
+now; as he unhesitatingly does, and forthwith goes below to find a
+fresh grievance in that the watch dinner has not been kept properly
+hot.
+
+The officer of the first watch has the same thing to turn over to his
+relief; and the middle watch keeper in turn passes on the knowledge
+to the rather sleepy and very disgruntled officer who turns up on the
+quarter-deck at twenty minutes past four to keep the morning watch.
+As his immediate predecessor has been kept waiting these twenty
+minutes he is not in the best of humour himself and a slight friction
+arises between the two, which happily vents itself in a shower of
+lurid objurgations directed against the skiff-dinghy and the
+misbegotten officer who has borrowed the boat and not brought it back.
+
+The officer of the morning watch thinks it better, under the
+circumstances, to go himself to the commander's cabin instead of
+sending the quartermaster, to carry out the directions contained in
+the commander's Night Order Book--"Call me at 5.30."
+
+He knocks as he pulls aside the curtain and steps into the cabin.
+
+"Commander, sir?  It is half-past five.  And--er, the skiff has not
+come back yet, sir."
+
+"Eh?  What's that?"--The commander, according to his usual habit, is
+quite wide awake the moment he is called, and begins at once to take
+an interest in the affairs of the ship in which he combines the
+duties of upper housemaid with those of acting-God-Almighty.
+
+"Didn't he say where he was going when he went away in the skiff?" he
+asks, on hearing the report now made to him.
+
+"No, sir; that is to say, not so far as I know.  Nothing was turned
+over to me about it.  I took it for granted that he had gone across
+to some other ship."
+
+"Never take anything for granted when you are officer of the watch,"
+comes the answer, a rebuke without a sting since it is made in a
+kindly fashion and comes from an officer who is known, to be just
+about as efficient as they make 'em and keen as mustard on every
+detail of the navy he serves and loves.
+
+The sub-lieutenant who had the last dog the evening before, when
+Stapleton took the skiff away, is roused to give what information he
+can; unfortunate youth, having looked forward to the pleasure of an
+all-night-in, not to go on watch again till he should start at
+eight-thirty to keep the forenoon, he is dragged from his bunk at
+quarter-to-six; and consequently has several caustic remarks to make
+about the habits and customs of the energetic commander; but he keeps
+these remarks to himself.
+
+As a result of this interview a general signal is made asking if any
+ship has seen anything of the missing skiff.  And in a few minutes
+the reply comes from a ship in an inshore billet that there is a
+skiff tied up at the landing-place without a boatkeeper, and that
+this skiff was noticed putting in there last night.
+
+The steamboat is called away and sent in to see if this may happen to
+be the one in question.  It proves to be so, as the boat's crew find
+out as soon as they get to the pier.
+
+They find something else also.
+
+They find, jammed amongst the rocks, washed by the incoming tide and
+half afloat at every wave, the battered and disfigured body of a
+seaman, whose wide staring eyes had in them the look as though they
+were still seeking something that could never be attained.  A little
+brown silky-eared dog crouches at his head, licking the dead man's
+face and from time to time whining piteously, not understanding why
+his master lies there and will not speak.
+
+And near him, just above the line of high water, another body in the
+uniform of an officer.  But this one is not dead, as is presently
+found, only bruised and faint, and utterly worn out by pain, shock,
+and weariness.  Indeed, he must have crawled half unconsciously out
+of reach of the tide before he quite succumbed.
+
+Even as his rescuers come up to him he is opening his eyes and
+beginning feebly to try and struggle to his feet.
+
+Very tenderly and carefully they help him, and carry him to the
+steamboat; nor is it until they have got him comfortably in the
+little cabin where he can see nothing that they bring the other man
+also, the dead man on board and lay the body on the deck for'ard,
+covering it with boat's flags.
+
+And so they make their way back to the ship.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+Secretary Dimsdale may be bashful enough in the presence of ladies.
+"They frighten me, and I lose my head at once," is his explanation of
+the fact--which perhaps accounts for the corresponding fact that up
+to the present he has never lost his heart.  But away from their
+alarming presence he is a very different man, a shrewd, clear-headed
+thinker who can put his finger on the essential point of a case in a
+brace of shakes, the sort of man who might have made a brilliant
+success as a barrister had he chosen to make a career for himself in
+civil life.
+
+If he were not a man of this sort, he would never have been picked
+out for a secretary; for an admiral's secretary, whether on board or
+in an appointment ashore, has to be a compendium of all the most
+lustrous qualities of all the most learned professions; he has to be
+able to talk like a parson, to diagnose like a doctor, to argue and
+persuade like a lawyer, and to do any or all of these things at a
+moment's notice; and he must be a cultured man of the world into the
+bargain.  Even all these qualifications would be of little use to
+him, they would never indeed be sufficient of themselves to secure
+him his secretaryship, unless he is a rattling good fellow who can
+win and keep the confidence of everybody from the admiral himself
+right down to the latest joined midshipman.
+
+Dimsdale is just such a man; his one handicap, his timidity with the
+fair sex, is a defect which the admiral, who has known him for the
+past twenty years, optimistically hopes he will some day grow out of.
+Indeed, Dimsdale hopes so himself; but up to the present he has shown
+very little sign to encourage such hopefulness.
+
+When, therefore, he escapes from the clutches of Norah and Netta on
+the fatal afternoon of his accompanying the admiral ashore for a walk
+on the island, he accepts with alacrity the task of conveying a
+message to Patrick Sheridan; this is a matter he can deal
+with--anything, in fact, so long as no more women are mixed up in it.
+
+With that scrupulous conscientiousness which characterises all his
+official dealings and has contributed so much to his success as a
+secretary, he determines to undertake the errand in person and not to
+leave it to a subordinate.  The more so, since he looks upon his
+behest not as an official duty but as an affair of honour; for with
+all his bashfulness Dimsdale has a very high regard for women, a
+knightly regard, and looks upon an errand entrusted to him by one of
+their number as a charge which he is in honour and duty bound to
+fulfil to the very letter.
+
+On leaving the island, therefore, he proceeds straight to the depôt
+ship where Sheridan is lodged, and makes enquiries as to where he may
+be found.
+
+O'Brien, the fleet-surgeon of the depôt ship, who has been taking a
+stroll on the quarter-deck by way of getting a little exercise in
+spite of being tied to the ship by the Medical Guard, meets the
+secretary as he comes on board and answers his enquiries.
+
+"Is it that fellow Sheridan ye're wanting to see, then?  Begad, ye'll
+be lucky if ye can succeed in setting eyes on him, for it's a thing
+none else of us can do, an' thass a fact!  Or may be ourselves that's
+the lucky ones, for of all the cross-grained murdherin' divils I ever
+came across in me life, sorra a one did I ever see to bate this
+ugly-looking shcoundrel!  I'm an Irishman meself--though I regret to
+say I've lost the thrick o' the tongue of my own mother-speech, and
+many's the one takes me for an Englishman, notin' the entoire absence
+of brogue in me--but though I tried my best to act friendly towards
+him when he came on board, he would have no daylin's with me.  It's
+his sort that brings the ould counthry into disrepute, bad luck to
+them!"
+
+"Well, where can I find him?" asks the secretary.
+
+"In his own cabin, where he sits and refuses to come out or speak to
+a living soul.  He insists on having his meals there--and judging by
+the number of trips the wine-steward makes to an' fro I should say he
+is a deal more thirsty than hungry--and there he shtays and refuses
+all attempts to persuade him to act like a sociable being and come
+into the mess with the rest of us."
+
+It is not very encouraging; but Dimsdale is not the man to take much
+account of a little discouragement.
+
+He finds his way to the cabin where Sheridan has, metaphorically
+speaking, barricaded himself in, and knocking at the tightly-closed
+door is greeted with a surly "Who's there?"
+
+Taking this for sufficient invitation to enter, without waiting for
+any further preliminaries, Dimsdale smartly pulls back the sliding
+door and then with another quick sweeping motion flings aside the
+thick brown curtain which further impedes his entrance, and sets foot
+inside the cabin.
+
+"Heavens, man, what an atmosphere!  How can you live in a place shut
+up like this?"--is his first greeting; and no wonder--for to a man
+coming from the open air and the sunshine this cabin, hermetically
+sealed, is like a foul dungeon!
+
+Like a dungeon indeed--like a condemned cell, almost; for the man who
+occupies it conveys the exact impression of a criminal sunk in the
+lethargy of despair.
+
+He is seated on the narrow bunk, with his legs hanging over the edge,
+and facing the doorway; he is huddled up with his elbows on his knees
+and his face in his hands, the very picture of a trapped enemy of
+society.
+
+Yet he is a free man, if he would use his freedom; he can mix with
+the other men on board, and he hopes in a day or two to be more free
+still--to get clear away from this disquieting place where the spirit
+of law and discipline irks his mind and troubles his conscience, if
+he has any conscience remaining to him.  Yes, he has made his plans
+for escaping to the south and losing himself amongst the
+multitudes--though there is one bothering matter which causes him a
+little anxiety; that court of enquiry, which he has heard is to take
+place on the morrow.
+
+In one respect the dark cabin is extremely unlike a prison cell; it
+reeks with the odour of tobacco, and with the nauseating fumes of
+whisky; and judging by the strength of both these perfumes, the
+occupant of the cabin has been indulging himself pretty freely.  The
+effect upon him is to make him even more surly and morose than he is
+by nature.
+
+"What have ye come in here for?  What d'ye want?" are the first words
+he speaks.
+
+"I have a message for you from your cousin, Miss Norah Sheridan,"
+answers the secretary.
+
+"Where is it?  Give it to me"--stretching out his hand and half
+uncovering his dark and unprepossessing face.
+
+"It is not a written message, only a verbal one," explains Dimsdale.
+"Miss Sheridan asked me to tell you that she particularly desires to
+see you to-morrow morning.  I shall be happy to arrange for a boat to
+be at your disposal at any time convenient to you."
+
+Sheridan makes no reply to this polite communication, unless it can
+be said to be in the nature of a reply that he lowers his hands from
+his face and glares fixedly and malignantly at the other man.
+
+For about the space of a minute he remains in this ill-humoured
+silence, and it is doubtful whether he has even listened to the
+message.  But presently he suddenly gives tongue, and rasps out:
+
+"Tell her I'll be with her at ten o'clock sharp."
+
+"Oh, but I'm afraid that will be a little too early, will it not?"
+
+"And for why?  Did ye not tell me I could suit my own convenience as
+to the time?"
+
+"Yes, that is true; but I was forgetting, or at least I took it for
+granted that you understood, there is to be a court of enquiry on the
+loss of the _Marathon_ at nine, at which your presence is requested."
+
+"And why should I be present?  Do they think I sank the blasted ship?
+I will not come, then!"
+
+"I myself shall be there, Mr. Sheridan, and yet it is quite certain
+that I did not sink the ship," answers Dimsdale quietly.  "You are
+under a misapprehension--A court of enquiry is not a court-martial;
+it is not held to try a prisoner, only to sift matters and endeavour
+to throw a little light on cases which need clearing up.  As you
+happened to be on board the _Marathon_ shortly before she was lost,
+it is only natural that the court should wish to question you amongst
+all the other witnessess."
+
+"What reason have they to suspect me?"  Sheridan cries angrily
+springing down from the bunk to the deck and standing to face
+Dimsdale in a menacing attitude.  "Is this the way you think right to
+treat a shipwrecked man.  I'll not come!"
+
+"It is not a case of suspecting you, or anyone else," the calm voice
+answers reassuringly; "they will merely question you on any points
+that may happen to occur to them, with the object of leaving no stone
+unturned that may chance to throw some light on what is at present a
+mystery.  Probably your share in the examination will only last a few
+minutes, as you obviously can know very little about it.  But I am
+afraid you will have to make up your mind to be present at the
+enquiry, though I regret very much that you should be put to such an
+inconvenience."
+
+"It _is_ an inconvenience--a cursed inconvenience," moodily growls
+the other.  "I--I would rather not come at all.  I'm busy!"
+
+Dimsdale can hardly suppress a smile; it is very plainly evident what
+it is that keeps the solitary man so busy; the spirit bottles, one
+empty and the other half empty, on the writing-table are evidence
+enough to this!
+
+But the tendency to smile vanishes when Dimsdale reflects that the
+excuse is not only rather ludicrous but also exceedingly clumsy.
+
+_Why_ should the man invent such a lame excuse?  What is there to
+keep him from attending the court of enquiry, and for what reason is
+he so obviously unwilling to be present?
+
+Dimsdale is a good fellow, and hates above all things to conceive a
+dislike for a man without any good reason--he rightly considers it
+the mark of an ill-balanced mind to do such a thing.  But he is
+uncomfortably conscious of the fact that he has taken a prejudice
+against this man.  Ever since he entered the cabin the feeling has
+been growing in him--"There's something mighty queer about this chap;
+he's a wrong 'un, if ever there was one."
+
+And he is ashamed of himself for allowing such a feeling to take hold
+of him--yet it will not be suppressed.  It is a shame to entertain
+suspicions of a man in such unfortunate circumstances as this!
+Dimsdale upbraids himself for giving way to such unworthy
+sentiments--and finds the sentiments growing stronger every moment!
+
+"I'll thank ye to take a letter to me cousin," says Sheridan, after
+he has swallowed the unpleasant dose of his enforced presence at the
+court on the morrow; he also swallows something else to wash it down,
+and finding that one draught is not sufficient to take away the taste
+follows it up with another.
+
+"Certainly," replies Dimsdale, pleased to see his man becoming
+slightly more reasonable, "if you will write it now I will take it
+with me, and it shall be given to her either to-night or the first
+thing to-morrow morning."
+
+"To-night would be better," is Sheridan's ungracious remark, as he
+takes a sheet of note-paper from the writing-table.  Then, in a
+bemused fashion, he fumbles in his pockets for a pencil, and after a
+little search finds one.
+
+As he takes it from his pocket something comes with it and falls with
+a little metallic tinkle to the deck.
+
+Sheridan's foot covers it instantly; the incident, slight as it is,
+appears to have sobered him on the moment.  He looks furtively at the
+other man, to see if he has observed anything.
+
+Dimsdale's eyes, however, are fixed upon a picture on the furthest
+bulkhead of the cabin, proof positive that his attention has not been
+attracted by the sound of the falling object, whatever it was.
+
+But he has seen it, though he pretends otherwise.  He has seen also
+the quick, stealthy movement of Sheridan's foot.  He never gives a
+single glance in that direction while Sheridan writes and seals up
+the letter, nor indeed does he look downwards for the rest of the
+time that he is in the cabin.
+
+But his quick eyes have observed a little round disc of metal
+enamelled with a device of certain signs.
+
+Dimsdale knows very well what this little badge means, and the
+significance of those signs.
+
+It is part of his business to know such things.  And he is also well
+aware that upon the fact that Sheridan believing him unobservant
+hangs his chance of getting out of the cabin alive.
+
+But he waits for the letter to be finished and placed in his hands
+without betraying the slightest sign of this.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+"Under ordinary circumstances," says the secretary to himself when he
+gets back to his private office, "I should describe it as the act of
+a dirty dog to open another man's letter, especially a letter
+addressed to a lady.  But, having regard to, well, having regard to
+that curious ornament so skilfully concealed beneath the flat foot of
+our extremely morose friend, I think on the whole that the dirty dog
+business becomes an unpleasant duty."
+
+With which reflection he turns the letter over in his hands, and
+inspects it closely from the outside.
+
+"Now, if it should turn out to be just an ordinary letter, saying
+that he has got a couple of stalls for the Coliseum, or asking her to
+come and have a cocktail as it's his birthday, or something of that
+sort, I shall feel rather a fool," he muses, "but in any case," he
+continues with a smile, becoming more of the complete villain as he
+warms to his task, "she won't know anything about it."
+
+This at least is true.  The function of censor, forced on him by the
+exigencies of war, has at least taught Dimsdale the art of opening
+even the most carefully stuck down envelope and sealing it up again
+in such a manner that the recipient would never suspect that such an
+operation has been performed.
+
+Very deliberately and carefully he makes use of the skill he has
+acquired, and the methods he employs are so delicate and so efficient
+that in a few minutes the letter opens as if by a magic touch, and
+the message lies spread out on the table before him.
+
+It is a very short letter, no more than a few words.  Dimsdale reads
+them over and over again, until he has got them off by heart; and in
+truth this is not a matter of much difficulty, for all that he has to
+learn is just this:
+
+
+"DEAR NORAH,
+
+"_There is to be a court of enquiry to-morrow morning.  They want me
+at it, and I shall have to be there.  There is no need for you to
+come, for you cannot tell them any more than I can, and it will only
+upset you after all you have been through.  Tell Netta that she must
+not dream of coming as she is in far too weak a state to do any such
+thing.  I am sure they will excuse you both.  You had better stay in
+bed and rest yourselves until we leave.  Mind, you are not on any
+account to risk coming to-morrow._
+
+  "_Your affect. Cousin,_
+                          PATRICK."
+
+
+A very carefully worded letter, thinks Dimsdale; the man must have
+been a good deal more sober than he looked when he wrote it; he has
+his wits about him, at all events, and if he is really a wrong 'un he
+will require some pretty careful handling to-morrow.
+
+"And now to deliver the letter," he says aloud.  And in spite of the
+fact that darkness has now fallen he at once sets about getting the
+boat called away to take him to the island.
+
+Almost as soon as he has started he overtakes in the darkness a skiff
+pulled by a single man, and the wash of the steamboat nearly swamps
+the small craft, so that Dimsdale labouring at the sculls curses the
+coxswain for an unhandy bat-eyed lubber.  But the steamboat goes
+unheeding on its way, and is starting back again before Stapleton has
+got halfway to the landing-place.
+
+Arriving at the hut, Dimsdale is greeted by Mrs. Shaw--the only
+feminine creature who does not inspire him overwhelmingly with fear;
+and on his saying that he wishes to see Miss Sheridan, lays himself
+open to the good creature's bantering remarks:
+
+"I suppose you mean Miss Netta Sheridan?  You appeared to be getting
+along very nicely with her a little while ago!  And now you have
+scarcely been a couple of hours away from the place and must needs
+come gallivanting after her again.  Mr. Dimsdale, I'm pleased to note
+this reformation in you.  But, as it happens, you can't see her just
+now; she is engaged with another admirer, a fine, handsome young
+bluejacket, a much better-looking man than you are!"
+
+Dimsdale disclaims any desire to speak with Miss Netta.  It is Miss
+Norah he desires to see--he has a note for her which he has promised
+to deliver as soon as possible.
+
+"That being the case," observed Mrs. Shaw, "you can see her at once;
+she doesn't happen to have any young man hanging about her at the
+present moment; though if you had been here an hour or so ago----!
+Well, well, go in there; you'll find her alone in that room--and I
+only hope you'll come out of it alive!"
+
+With this parting thrust at his well-known timidity, she motions him
+to the door of the room and leaves him.
+
+But Dimsdale's timidity falls from him, even in the unaccompanied
+presence of a beautiful girl, when he has a definite object to
+pursue; and in this case he certainly has such an object, namely to
+try and sift the mystery of Patrick Sheridan in order to find out
+whether there has been any mischief afoot.
+
+Explaining the purpose for which he has come at such an hour, he
+hands the letter to Norah, and watches her very closely while she
+reads it.
+
+Will she betray any secret knowledge, anything to give him a hint, a
+clue, by the tremor of her eyelids or the quiver of her lips?
+
+She gives no such sign, but reads the short missive to its close
+without changing in the slightest degree the expression of her
+features, and deliberately folds the letter up and places it again in
+the envelope.
+
+"Is there any answer you would like to send?" asks the secretary.
+
+"None, thank you," she replies briefly, and waits in silence,
+evidently expecting him to go.
+
+This is not encouraging.  Dimsdale did not expect that there would be
+any answer to the letter, knowing that it required none; but he hoped
+for something a little more illuminating than this.
+
+He casts about in his mind for something to say which shall appear
+natural and at the same time lead to a more fruitful conversation.
+
+One thing causes him embarrassment; he is in the dark as to whether
+the girls have yet heard of the loss of the _Marathon_ or not; the
+admiral, it is true, enjoined silence on the subject, but that was in
+the early part of the afternoon, and a good many people may have been
+talking since then.  Besides, Norah seems to understand Sheridan's
+letter, with its reference to a court of enquiry.
+
+"Have you heard any news to-day, Miss Sheridan?"  It is a lame start,
+but better than nothing.
+
+"Do you mean the terrible news of the loss of the ship which rescued
+us last night?  Yes, I have heard of it, and am more shocked and
+distressed than I can possibly tell you," she replies.
+
+Her answer sounds frank enough, but in reality she is fencing with
+him.  Norah is beginning to feel afraid.  Why does this man sit
+there, with his questions and the look of an inquisitor in his
+piercing eyes?
+
+"Ah, you have heard of it then," he remarks sympathetically: "I am
+sorry--we hoped to have kept it from you, at least till to-morrow
+morning."
+
+"Why till to-morrow morning only?" she asks.
+
+"Because there is a sort of enquiry to be held about the unfortunate
+occurrence then, and it may be necessary to ask you and your cousin
+to be present."
+
+"I will certainly be there," comes the frank, almost eager reply,
+"and shall be glad if I can be of any use.  So will Netta too, if she
+is well enough, though you must have seen for yourself this afternoon
+that she is in a very weak state."
+
+"I did notice it, and was very sorry to see it, though not at all
+surprised," he makes answer; and then subsides into silence again.
+
+The affair is not progressing!  This girl shows no disinclination to
+making a statement and undergoing examination at the court of
+enquiry.  It is all very perplexing, and Dimsdale begins again to
+hate himself for being such a cad as to venture false suspicions.
+But then that little enamelled badge falling from Sheridan's
+waistcoat pocket!
+
+In the lull of conversation is heard the sound of a door opening and
+closing again and footsteps on the gravel path outside diminishing
+into the distance.  "Perhaps you would like to see my cousin before
+you go?" invites Norah.  "I hear her visitor going, so you will find
+her alone if you care to go into the room opposite."
+
+Nothing but the utmost frankness, she feels, can save them now.
+Netta may betray something, but that risk has to be taken; the main
+thing is not to appear to wish to hide anything or to have anything
+to hide.
+
+"Thank you.  I think I should like to, if you are sure she won't
+mind," he says; and after a courteous farewell finds himself a moment
+later knocking gently at the door of Netta's room.
+
+He enters, after having waited a while with no reply to his knocking,
+thinking that she has probably left to join Mrs. Shaw, but wishing to
+make certain of the fact.
+
+But Netta is still in the room when Dimsdale goes in.  He discovers
+her lying prone upon the couch with her head buried in her arms,
+sobbing as if her heart would break.
+
+"Oh, why are you crying?" he exclaims, overcome with surprise and
+some other emotion--at the sight.  "I--I don't want you to cry like
+that!"
+
+This is not at all what he meant to say!
+
+There is no answer, except more sobbing.
+
+Dimsdale approaches the weeping girl with slow and hesitating steps.
+He feels that he ought to go away and leave her to her distress, but
+some new and unaccustomed force seems to lead him in the other
+direction.
+
+Yet he does not know in the least what to say or what to do.  He has
+never before been placed in circumstances like these.  And the queer
+thing about it is that although he feels mightily uncomfortable and
+ill at ease, yet at the same time he would not go away for worlds.
+
+Well, something must be done, anyhow!  It is to be feared that
+Dimsdale has almost forgotten the fact that he came here in the
+character of an investigator, determined on probing a mystery, or at
+least on finding out whether a mystery existed.
+
+But he is faced with a greater mystery--that of a woman's tears; and
+something within him calls to him to make the attempt to fathom it,
+though he has very little idea as to how to set to work.
+
+He is standing now by the side of the couch, the girl sees him and
+recognises him, but gives no hint of it.  Her fierce sobs shake her
+frail body still, and the ashen-gold luxuriance of her hair hides all
+her face as she buries her head again in the cushion.
+
+He is kneeling now by her side, and calling to her softly in broken
+and disjointed sentences, beseeching her to still her grief and tell
+him its cause.  The sobs come fainter as he continues speaking his
+distressed appeals, fainter until they almost cease.  He is taking
+her into his arms now, and his lips are pressed ever so gently upon
+the clustering gold of her hair, while his words formulate themselves
+with meaning more distinct and complete.
+
+"Oh, my dear, my dear, don't cry any more!  Indeed there is no need!"
+
+Thus for the second time within a quarter of an hour Netta finds
+herself clasped within a lover's arms.  But this time she does not
+shrink away suffering herself to be held in an embrace which is
+infinitely more tender and comforting than the passionate clasp of
+the other; and although she presently repeats her former dismissal
+with a softly uttered, "Oh, go, please go!" yet there is a very
+different tone underlying the words this time.
+
+And Dimsdale takes her at her word and departs.  He is very new to
+this sort of thing, be it remembered.
+
+But where is the keen prober of mysteries, the unofficial detective,
+that entered the room only a few minutes ago?
+
+Ah, Dimsdale, it is a good thing that Mrs. Shaw does not see you as
+you take your departure!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+"But I tell you I _must_ see the admiral!"
+
+"That's all right, old man; you just lie still as you are for a bit
+and we'll see what we can do about it."  The fleet-surgeon bends over
+the cot in the sick bay where the patient is temporarily
+accommodated, and with his best bedside manner rearranges the pillows
+beneath the bandaged head of the sick officer.  He believes in
+humouring cases of this sort; it is no good contradicting them--that
+only upsets them; far better pretend to give in to their idle fancies.
+
+And all the while, beaming suavely and answering soothingly to the
+distracted appeals, he is thinking, "I hope to goodness that hospital
+drifter will come alongside soon.  Once they have got him on board
+the hospital ship they can deal with him all right; they've got
+plenty of sisters and nurses to look after him and keep him quiet if
+he gets fractious, but with the small staff I've got here--well, I
+shan't be sorry to get rid of him!"
+
+"Confound it, man, can't you see there's nothing the matter with me?
+It is most important that I should go and see the admiral at once.  I
+must go, I tell you!"
+
+"They always do think it most important that they should get out of
+bed and go off somewhere or other," thinks the fleet-surgeon; "these
+cases of slight concussion are the very deuce and all."
+
+And he nods almost imperceptibly to the sick-berth steward across the
+bed; by which the latter understands that he is to go and summon the
+attendant to help hold the patient down in case he gives trouble.
+
+Really, it is not a very serious case of concussion, to judge by all
+the symptoms; the eyes look all right, and there is no sign of
+torpor.  Moreover, there are no bones broken to complicate the case.
+It must be just the general shock which accounts for this excited
+condition--that, and the reaction after the distressing events
+connected with the loss of the _Marathon_.
+
+"Would you care for a lemon drink?" says the fleet-surgeon, evading
+the patient's excited remarks; "they make an awfully good brand of it
+in the sick bay here.  I tell you, lots of fellows try to go sick
+just on purpose to get some.  Would you like to sample it?"
+
+"Lemon drink be damned!" cries Stapleton, losing his temper
+completely.  "I'm as well as you are, and if you weren't a blithering
+fool you ought to be able to see it for yourself without my telling
+you!  Why are you keeping me here?  What in the world do you imagine
+is the matter with me?"
+
+This particular fleet-surgeon believes not only in humouring his
+fractious patients; he even goes so far at times as to talk straight
+to them about their ailments, without any evasion or pretence.  It is
+rather a bold plan, but sometimes it has marvellously good results.
+
+"Well, old man," he says, "it's just this.  You have had a pretty bad
+time of it--got a pretty bad biff on the head, you know; and unless
+you keep quiet and rest for a day or two I won't answer for the
+consequences."
+
+"But I assure you I feel perfectly well," answers Stapleton in a tone
+of aggrieved surprise.  "I'm only just a bit shaken--that's nothing.
+My mind is absolutely clear, and I'm not wandering, or anything of
+that sort.  There really is something which the admiral ought to be
+told immediately.  It isn't hallucination on my part or any rot of
+that sort!"
+
+"I'll tell you what we'll do," offers the fleet-surgeon with engaging
+frankness; "you turn round and go to sleep for an hour or two, and
+then, when you wake up, if you still have the same idea we shall both
+know that it is genuine and no hallucination.  Come now, that's a
+fair offer, isn't it?"
+
+Stapleton finds it increasingly difficult to keep down his rising
+anger in face of this plausible palavering.  Yet he is sensible
+enough to see that he must do so, if he will not fall deeper into
+suspicion as one who is wandering in his mind.
+
+"No," he says, "I'm afraid that won't do at all.  You see, I must
+tell my news to the admiral at once, while the court of enquiry is
+sitting.  Before, if I can get to him in time."
+
+He speaks so quietly and reasonably that the fleet-surgeon is almost
+convinced, against his will.
+
+"I am quite willing to undergo any test you may like to put me to,"
+continues the patient with quiet earnestness; "ask me any questions
+you like, try me in any way you will, and I'll prove to you that my
+brain is in perfect working order.  As for the rest of me, I'm quite
+all right in that respect too, except for a slight feeling of
+stiffness and bruises."
+
+"Well," says the fleet-surgeon, thinking it wise to take him at his
+word, "tell me exactly all that happened to you last night, and how
+you came to be in the condition you were found in this morning.  How
+did you manage to fall over the cliff?"
+
+"Fall over the cliff?  Did I fall over it?"
+
+"Hm!  Don't you remember it, then?"
+
+"I remember going ashore--and I remember being helped into the boat
+just now.  Do you mean to tell me that--oh, of course it must be
+so--that was last night and this is this morning!"
+
+"How did you get so near the cliff, away from the path?  And who was
+the sailor with you?"
+
+"Sailor?  What sailor?"
+
+"You _don't_ remember, then?"
+
+"Oh, hang it all, I remember borrowing the skiff and going away by
+myself.  I pulled in, and made fast to the landing-place.  My
+intention was to look for the admiral, as I believed him to be still
+somewhere on the island, and I wanted most urgently to see him so as
+to tell him--what I still want to tell him!"
+
+"Yes?  And what then?  What happened after that?"
+
+A blank, puzzled look overspreads Stapleton's features.
+
+"I--I'm blest if I know!" is his crestfallen reply.  "Stop a minute.
+I've got it!  No,--it's gone again!"
+
+"There you are, see!" exclaimed the fleet-surgeon triumphantly.
+"What did I tell you?  You see, your brain is not quite in working
+order: but, if you do as I tell you and keep quiet, we'll have you
+right again before you know where you are."
+
+"Now, what the deuce did happen after I landed?" muses the other,
+paying no attention to the doctor's words, but engaged in trying to
+worry the thing out.
+
+A voice at the door of the sick bay makes an interruption in this
+colloquy.
+
+"Hospital drifter just come alongside, sir.  How soon can you be
+ready?"
+
+It is the officer of the forenoon watch who speaks, the same young
+sub-lieutenant who allowed Stapleton to take the skiff away in the
+last dog of the previous evening.  And his soul within him is stirred
+with righteous wrath against the offending officer.
+
+"I never came across any one like him for causing so much trouble in
+a short time," he complains in bitter meditation.  "First he blows on
+board and turns me out of my cabin; then he keeps the steamboat as
+his own blooming private yacht the whole of the afternoon; then he
+takes away the skiff and loses her, and consequently gets me strafed
+by the commander; and finally pinches four of the hands to carry his
+blighted cot just when I haven't got a man that can be spared!  I
+hope to goodness they will drop him in the ditch and drown him!"
+
+"What's that about a hospital drifter?" enquires Stapleton in an
+ominously quiet voice.
+
+"Well, you see, old man, you will be able to get better food and more
+attention in the hospital ship; so I'm sending you there for a few
+days."
+
+"I'm damned if you are!" shouts the stalwart patient, flinging aside
+the bed-clothes and springing out of the cot.  "Here, give me my
+things at once; I'm going to dress.  I've had enough of this dashed
+tomfoolery!"
+
+"Hold his legs!  Here, you!  Come here and help!  Ah, is that your
+game?"
+
+Stapleton has flung the unfortunate steward sprawling across the
+adjoining cot, and turns threateningly upon his chief tormentor.
+
+"If you lay a finger on me I'm afraid I shall have to do the same to
+you," he cries.
+
+The fleet-surgeon, is no athlete, but he has the heart of a lion; he
+needs it in his job.  He braces himself for an effort; there are the
+makings of a very pretty rough house in the situation.
+
+Fortunately, its development suffers a timely check; the captain of
+the ship at this moment enters, politely solicitous as to the welfare
+of his sick guest.
+
+It is a very unexpected tableau that meets his surprised eyes.
+
+"What on earth--hallo, what is happening?" he not unnaturally queries.
+
+Explanations follow, somewhat confusedly, those of the fleet-surgeon
+being much more voluble and pointed than the account given by
+Stapleton, who stands quietly biding his time until the other has
+finished.
+
+Then he tells his story, lucidly and calmly, again insisting with the
+utmost earnestness that he has most important information for the
+admiral.
+
+"But," says the captain, "can't you see for yourself that this may be
+nothing more than a trick of the imagination?  That knock on the head
+you have got may account for the whole thing; the fleet-surgeon says
+it is so, and although you seem clear enough in your mind on other
+matters, I think it is quite possible that you may be suffering from
+the effects of the shock you have had.  You say you can't remember
+what took place last night after you landed on the island?"
+
+"Unfortunately, no, sir.  I have a perfectly clear recollection of
+everything else, but just how I happened to fall over the cliff
+remains a blank to me.  I can only imagine that in the dark we must
+have got too near the edge, and either grabbled hold of the other man
+to save him or he must have grabbled hold of me.  But, though I have
+no explanation to offer of that, the point is that I distinctly
+remember going ashore for the very purpose of finding the admiral and
+speaking to him.  That doesn't fit in with the hallucination theory,
+does it?"
+
+"What do you think, P.M.O.?"
+
+"Well, sir, I wouldn't altogether like to say what there may not be
+something in what he says, but----"
+
+"Why can't you tell me all about it instead of the admiral?" breaks
+in the captain, seeing a way out of the difficulty.
+
+Stapleton also sees hope in this, and grasps at the suggestion.
+
+"I can't tell you all, sir," he replies with eagerness, "but I can
+tell you enough to let you see how very essential it is that I should
+go to the admiral at once."
+
+Inwardly he is fuming with impatience; the court of enquiry, as he
+knows, must have already opened, and if matters are delayed much
+longer he will be too late.
+
+But it is no use giving way to this impatience.  He must collect his
+wits to tell the captain just enough and no more.
+
+The fleet-surgeon tactfully withdraws from the sick-bay, beckoning to
+his attendants to do the same, and leaves Stapleton to his private
+interview with the captain.
+
+Just how much Stapleton tells him is known to those two alone.  But
+it has its effect--the captain is evidently greatly impressed; more
+than that, he is convinced.  Stapleton's patience and insistence have
+won, after all.
+
+Summoning the fleet-surgeon again, the captain states his conviction
+that the sick officer really has some secret information which ought
+to be imparted to the court of enquiry; and the man of medicine is so
+far persuaded that at last he consents to let Stapleton go, only
+stipulating that he himself shall accompany him as a necessary
+precaution.
+
+This is enough.  The hospital drifter is sent away again, and in her
+place the steamboat is called away.  Stapleton and his cautious
+medical adviser get down into the boat and start off immediately.
+
+Will he be in time?  That is Stapleton's one thought now.
+
+And the sub-lieutenant on watch looks gloomily after the departing
+steamboat, and murmurs pessimistically, "More trouble!  I hope the
+P.M.O. will give him a dose of poison!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+Even the least of life's tragedies would be sufficient to unnerve us
+completely and throw us off our mental balance for the rest of our
+days if we could visualise it thoroughly in all its details.
+Fortunately, our powers of imagination are strictly limited, and the
+proverb "What the eye does not see the heart does not feel" has a
+very true application to those great sufferings we hear or read
+about.  The only impression we get is just a dim blurred idea of
+horror and sadness and pain; we are mercifully spared the realisation
+of each throb of agony, each bitter pang of mental torment.
+
+Even such impressions as we do succeed in getting of the disasters
+which happen to other people would be unendurable if we allowed
+ourselves to brood upon them; we should probably go mad, or if we
+escaped this we should at all events become so utterly distracted
+that our usefulness in life would be gone, and there would be no
+pleasure in our days.
+
+The common sense of humanity has therefore decided that a limit must
+be placed to grief, and that the natural impulse to feel for others'
+sufferings must not be permitted to interfere unduly with the
+ordinary affairs of life.  Though one half the world should perish,
+the other half must still go on.  Though the breadwinner of the
+family is brought home by his mates at the mine or the factory
+crushed to death in some fearful accident, there is still the
+children's dinner to be cooked.
+
+And the constant succession of disasters which comes as the evil
+harvest of a war makes people gradually fall into the habit of
+accustoming themselves to hear of fresh disasters without exhibiting
+any great display of feeling.  The thing is too big, and we are too
+small, too limited.  It is not that we are unsympathetic--we are full
+of sympathy, indeed--but, well, we just become used to these awful
+happenings.  The noise of a gun going off somewhere close at hand is
+rather a severe shock to the nerves when it is heard for the first
+time, but when the guns are heard all day long and every day, it is
+not long before they cease to be noticed at all.
+
+So, if a ship were lost in the days before the war, the whole country
+used to be overshadowed with deep gloom which lasted for many a sad
+long day; but when the evil fortunes of war brought one fine ship
+after another to an untimely end with all her crew--well, there was
+sympathy enough, especially amongst those who were very closely
+affected by the disaster, but even for these it became possible to
+smile, nevertheless, and even to crack a joke.
+
+This was not callousness; it was merely human nature asserting
+itself.  And a fortunate thing for ourselves and for the world in
+general that the tendency to cheer up and make the best of a bad job
+is more powerful than the opposite tendency to brood unceasingly over
+what cannot be helped.
+
+Admiral Darlington, therefore, must not be accused of being lacking
+in the finer feelings if he has a placid look of contentment and the
+makings of a well-pleased smile upon his jolly face, even though he
+is presently to bring his mind to bear upon the tragedy of the loss
+of the _Marathon_, with so many of her officers and men.  What is the
+good of pulling a long face over the matter?  If he can help in any
+way to mitigate the sorrows caused by the disaster, depend upon it he
+will do so; before long, you may be sure, he will be putting his hand
+into his pocket on behalf of the widows and orphans.  Meanwhile, he
+has just got outside an uncommonly good breakfast, and is enjoying
+the first pipe of the day, which, as all smokers will agree, is the
+best pipe of all.  Moreover, the sun is shining in a cloudless sky,
+and the mail has just brought him news that his youngest boy has
+successfully passed into Osborne as a naval cadet, thereby getting
+his foot, neatly encased in the uniform boot which gives him immense
+pride, upon the first rung of the ladder his father has climbed
+before him.
+
+So no wonder the admiral is inclined to look upon the bright side of
+things, and to greet Dimsdale with a cheery Good Morning when the
+secretary comes into his room with a bundle of letters and official
+papers in his hand.
+
+The admiral begins his working-day early.  Already, before
+breakfasting, he has been up for a couple of hours, spending one of
+them in certain violent physical exercises which he explains are
+necessary to keep him in health and vigour, though other people are
+apt to say unkindly that his real aim in the vain one--vain in both
+senses of the word--of preserving his youthful contour-line
+amidships, the second hour he devotes to what he calls clewing up any
+business left over from the day before.  He insists upon doing this
+unaided, and it is not until breakfast is over that he calls for the
+assistance of his secretary.
+
+It is a pleasant little morning room where the admiral is seated,
+enjoying his pipe in a comfortable arm-chair.  The wide french
+windows look out upon one of the many indentations of the harbour,
+and provide a view of a little hamlet clustered in the sheltering
+nook of a glen that widens out at the water's edge.  Over the wide
+heather-clad slopes on either side are scattered here and there the
+tiny cottages of outlying crofters, and where the land is brought
+under cultivation the old men and the women--the young men have all
+gone to the war--are working busily to win from the rough, poor soil
+such scanty return as Nature grudgingly gives in these high and
+far-off edges of the world.  The hardy little oxen too, are called in
+to assist in the work of the fields and altogether it is a very
+delightful picture of a primitive honest life pursuing its daily way
+in spite of the horrid noise and clash of distant war, in a land
+bleak and barren enough to the casual eye of a stranger, but dear as
+life itself to those born and bred on it, and never losing its place
+in their heart even though they wander to the world's end.
+
+"Well, Dimsdale, and what have we got this morning?  Nothing very
+much, I hope; anyhow, let's get through with it.  We shan't have too
+much time, with this other business coming along presently.  What's
+the first?"
+
+Dimsdale picks out a letter from his pile and hands it to the
+admiral.  A faint trace of a smile flickers at the corners of his
+lips as he does so.
+
+"Eh?  What's this?" ejaculates the admiral as he reads.  "No--I will
+not become a patron of the society for supplying bedsocks to
+Conscientious Objectors!  Tell 'em so, and be damned to 'em!"
+
+"Very good, sir," quietly answers the secretary.  "I'll tell them
+exactly what you say."
+
+"You can put it a lot stronger than that if you like," says the
+other, with an indignant snort.  "Conscien----" the danger of too
+violent an explosion checks him, and happily he sees the humorous
+side of things just in time.  "What a nerve some people have!" is his
+very unofficial comment.  "Here, let's have the next one.  You can
+answer that any time."
+
+"This is a private letter to you, sir," says Dimsdale, proffering a
+large envelope of an expensive brand marked with a crest on the flap,
+"but it was not marked private, and so got put in amongst my lot; but
+it is evidently meant for you personally."
+
+The admiral pulls the letter out, and reads:
+
+
+"DEAR ADMIRAL DARLINGTON--
+
+"_My son Ethelred is, as you are doubtless aware, a midshipman on
+your boat.  And now that the inclement season is approaching, I shall
+be so grateful if you will kindly see that he always changes his
+undervest if he should happen to get wet, as I am told one is quite
+apt to do when at sea._
+
+"_Of course, I quite understand that your other duties may sometimes
+render it impossible for you to see to this matter yourself, but in
+that case I am sure you would not mind telling the commander or the
+coxswain or somebody to do it, and reminding them from time to time._
+
+"_Ethelred has been very carefully brought up, and I am sure you must
+find him a great help to you.  Please do not let him go out in one of
+those little steamboats if the weather is at all rough, as I think
+they are very dangerous._
+
+"_I hope my boy does not suffer from sea-sickness, but I know, from
+sad experience gained in crossing the Channel a few years ago, how
+extremely suddenly this dire malady can attack even those who are
+least suspecting its onslaughts; and I am in possession of a remedy
+which proved very beneficial to me on that occasion, which I shall be
+only too pleased to send you for the use not only of Ethelred, but of
+any other of the men on your boat who may chance to succumb to this
+distressing complaint.  In sending you the prescription, I shall have
+the satisfaction of feeling that I am doing my bit for our brave
+sailors and helping to mitigate at least one of the horrors of this
+great war._
+
+    "_With kind regards,
+        "Yours sincerely,_
+  "AMY TWITTENHAM-TWITTENHAM."
+
+
+"Hm!  You can answer that one for me, Dimsdale," says the admiral.
+"Perhaps you had better say that I tuck him up in bed every night
+with my own hands and sing him to sleep; something of that sort!  By
+the way, how is the young monkey getting on?  Have you seen anything
+of him lately?"
+
+"The last time I saw him," the secretary answers, "was about eleven
+o'clock three or four nights back.  He was with several other
+snotties tobogganing down the foremost gangway inside the chaplain's
+suit-case and landing in the ditch.  I enquired what might be the
+meaning and reason of this occupation, and young Twittenham informed
+me that they were Gadarene swine.  Apparently the idea was to try and
+remember the padre's last Sunday's sermon by putting it into actual
+practice; so Twittenham explained it, at least.  He also added that
+another little drink wouldn't do him any harm.  In fact, he appeared
+on the whole to be doing very nicely."
+
+The admiral chuckles merrily, remembering his own midshipman's days.
+"Better drop a hint to the padre to choose some less violent subject
+for his next discourse," he suggests, "something at any rate less
+wetting!"
+
+"I shouldn't like to discourage him; his sermons might get _too_ dry
+altogether," says Dimsdale, laughing.
+
+"Then," he continues bringing out another paper from his sheaf,
+"there's this one:
+
+
+I--A return is to be made immediately of all H.M. ships or vessels
+fitted with soap-dishes pattern number four (noted on list as Dishes,
+Soap, number four pattern) and pierced with eighteen holes, circular,
+of one-eight of an inch in diameter.
+
+This return to be made in triplicate, stating,
+
+(a) How many of such articles are on charge.
+
+(b) How many are in actual use on board.
+
+(c) Whether it is found in practice that the residuum of soap or soap
+and water, occasioned by taking the piece or cake of soap from the
+water in which it has been used and placing it in the soap-dish, is
+able to escape with sufficient freedom into the receptacle provided
+for the same.
+
+II--If it is found that this escape or discharge does not take place
+with reasonable speed and effectiveness, thereby causing a sediment
+of saponaceous matter with aqueous base and occasioning wastage of
+soap, the soap-dishes are to be returned at once to H.M. Dockyard
+where the holes will be enlarged from a diameter of one-eight of an
+inch to a diameter of three-sixteenths of an inch.
+
+
+"And yet," groans the admiral, "there is a war on!  Well the rest can
+wait.  Nothing of any importance, is there?  I suppose not, if that's
+a sample.  We're due to start this court of enquiry in half an hour.
+But what's this yarn you were telling me about the man Sheridan?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+"Did you ever hear of the Shamrock League, sir?".
+
+"No, I can't say that I did.  What is it?  It sounds like the name of
+an Irish benefit society."
+
+"Well, it is rather different to that.  As a matter of fact, it is
+just as harmless, as far as its outward profession goes, being merely
+an association for the promotion of the Irish language and
+literature.  But, beneath the surface, it is really a hotbed of
+dangerous treason and some of it members are fanatics of the worst
+type; but the majority of the people who belong to it are only
+allowed to know the literary side of the thing at first, and are not
+told anything about its political aspect until they have been well
+sounded and proved trustworthy.  That is what makes it such a
+dangerous affair--if one tries to probe it, one gets no further than
+the discovery of just a harmless society of dilettanti."
+
+"Well, but what about it?  Do you mean to say that this man Sheridan
+is a member of this society?  I don't see that we can bring that up
+against him in any way?"
+
+"He is not only a member, but one of the secret Inner Circle of the
+Shamrock League, and even there he holds very high office.  That
+badge that I told you about; the badge he tried to cover with his
+foot when I saw him in his cabin, is one that only a very few people
+indeed in the League are possessed of."
+
+"How do, you know?"
+
+"Well, sir, I _do_ know--it would take me too long now to tell you
+the ins and outs of the way I came to learn the fact.  Of course, as
+you say, it may have no bearing whatever upon this sad business,
+but--well, one naturally distrusts a man who is known to belong to
+the inner circle of a league of rebels!"
+
+"Quite right, quite right!  But I still don't see exactly what we can
+do about it.  By the way, have you got him here?"
+
+"He will be present as a witness at the court, sir.  In view of
+my--well, my suspicions, I considered that all three of them ought to
+be there, so I made arrangements for the two girls to come also."
+
+"You acted quite rightly, Dimsdale.  Indeed, I don't see that you
+could have very well done otherwise, though it certainly seems rather
+a shame to put those two poor things up to be fired at with
+questions, after all they have been through."
+
+"It does, indeed, sir," remarks Dimsdale, with a keen recollection of
+his last meeting with Netta the previous evening.  He held her in his
+arms then, and called her his dear--and presently he will have to
+subject her to a formal examination; it is distinctly unpleasant, and
+he feels it would be a great relief to kick himself.
+
+"I hope you haven't found a mare's nest," broods the admiral rather
+gloomily; "What sort of questions do you propose to put to them?"
+
+"I intend simply to begin with asking them for a clear account of
+what happened while they were on board the _Marathon_.  Their story
+of what took place beforehand seems to be genuine enough, so far as I
+can make out--except for one small detail.  Oh, how perfectly hateful
+it is to have to try deliberately to be suspicious!  But there is
+just one thing which does not exactly tally with their story as they
+have already told it!"
+
+"What do you mean?  Explain yourself."
+
+"Well, I see from this Confidential Weekly Shipping Report," taking
+another paper from his bundle as he speaks, "that the s.s. _Botopi_,
+the ship in which the Sheridan party were alleged to have taken
+passage, really did sail from Galveston, Texas, on the exact date
+they mentioned.  She was due the day before yesterday--and she has
+not arrived.  She sent out the S.O.S. call that same morning; and the
+patrol vessels sent out in search could find no trace of her."
+
+"By Jove, Dimsdale, you have been collecting information pretty
+thoroughly!  But the result seems to be that the facts of the case
+tally precisely with the Sheridans' account."
+
+"Yes, so they do.  That is what I said.  But, on the other hand, it
+would not be outside the bounds of possibility to acquire all these
+details from German, or rather pro-German sources."
+
+"Y-yes; I suppose it could be done; though it seems very unlikely.
+I'm not surprised at your describing yourself as a suspicious fellow,
+Dimsdale."
+
+The secretary feels the sting of the implied rebuke, the more so as
+he knows it to be a deserved one.  But he has steeled himself to an
+unpleasant task and will not be deterred from pursuing it to the very
+end.
+
+"I have to be suspicious in a case like this, sir," he quietly
+answers; "and that is why I took the steps I did next."
+
+"What did you do?"
+
+"I cabled to the _Botopi's_ agents at Galveston, and asked if the
+Sheridans' names were on the passenger-list."
+
+"Yes?  By Jove, Dimsdale, you're a smart fellow!  I should never have
+thought of doing that!  Well?"
+
+The secretary takes yet another paper from the bundle in his hand.
+
+"Here is the reply cable," he says, handing it to the admiral.
+
+It reads:
+
+"_No Sheridan in passenger-list._"
+
+"Hm!  That looks bad, I must admit," remarks the admiral, pursing up
+his lips.  "But," he adds after a moment's reflection taking a
+brighter view of the case, "of course there may be some very simple
+explanation of that!  You're right, though, it does make the case
+somewhat more serious.  Is that the one exception you referred to in
+the truthfulness of the Sheridans' story?"
+
+"That was it, sir.  It may be nothing, as you say; and yet----"
+
+There is a knock at the door.  The admiral's coxswain opens it and
+announces:
+
+"Three ladies to see you, sir."
+
+"_Three?_" exclaims the admiral, ruefully guessing who the third one
+is.  "Don't be afraid, Dimsdale, you shan't be left alone with them!
+Ask them to come inside!  Why have they come at this hour, I wonder?
+I didn't expect them for another half an hour or more."
+
+He has no time for further reflections--and Dimsdale, poor man, has
+no means of escape.  Through the open doorway sails in a very angry
+Mrs. Shaw, with the two girls in close company.
+
+She wastes no time in empty courtesies and greetings, but begins at
+once to unburden herself of the wrath that is swelling her motherly
+bosom.
+
+The admiral himself is the first object of her attack.  She faces him
+with anger glittering in her eye as she begins her remonstrance.
+
+"I understand, Admiral Darlington, that you have sent for these poor
+girls on a matter of extreme importance.  I cannot imagine what it
+may be, but I must say that I think it is very inconsiderate of you
+to drag them out, across the water, at this hour of the day--_most_
+inconsiderate, seeing how ill they both are and what they have been
+through, poor things!  Of course, I could not dream of allowing them
+to come alone--they are scarcely fit to walk.  Even Miss Norah, who
+seemed to be recovering splendidly, has had a strange relapse since
+yesterday afternoon, and what the effect of this thoughtless business
+of dragging them from their beds in the early morning will be is more
+than I should like to say!  I hope you will feel satisfied at your
+work, if it brings them to their graves, as I daresay it will--Mr.
+Dimsdale!  Are there no chairs in this room?  _Really!_--Yes, it is
+_you_ who are chiefly to blame in this matter.  It is all _your_
+doing!  You are supposed to be the admiral's man of business, aren't
+you?  Very well, then, I think you ought to be thoroughly ashamed of
+yourself persecuting two poor helpless, girls in this heartless
+manner!  Yes, I am angry.  And now, perhaps, Mr. Dimsdale, you will
+be good enough to say what it is you want with them.  _Which_ of them
+is it you wish to interview?  Or is it _both_?"
+
+"I--I--I----" the unhappy secretary, in a state of complete nervous
+prostration, is quite unable to make a fitting reply, and takes
+refuge in busily bringing chairs for the three ladies; in fact he
+brings not three chairs but six, and is going to get more, till
+stopped by Mrs. Shaw's "Good gracious!  Is the man trying to
+barricade himself?  Do sit down and be quiet, and allow us to do the
+same."
+
+"My dear Mrs. Shaw," says the admiral in soothing tones, seizing the
+first opportunity of getting a word in edgeways, "I assure you that
+Mr. Dimsdale is not to blame in any way.  It is I who am entirely
+responsible, and I must apologise humbly to these young ladies, and
+to yourself, for all the trouble and inconvenience to which you have
+been put.  But the matter is really a serious one, or else I should
+never have thought of asking you all to be here."
+
+A silvery voice breaks in with a most astonishing effect; in fact, if
+a lamb were to turn upon the shepherd defending it, and speak a good
+word for the wolf, the effect could hardly be more surprising!  It is
+Netta who speaks, the weak, gentle Netta!  And she says to the good
+lady at her side:
+
+"I think you are very unkind to speak to Mr. Dimsdale in that way,
+Mrs. Shaw!  He was most considerate and good yesterday, sitting with
+us and talking to us while you--while you went off with the admiral!"
+
+"_While I went_--And I thought you were a timid little thing afraid
+to say Bo to a--yes, I suppose I _am_ a goose to get so angry and
+flurried.  But the poor girls really _are_ weak and ill, you know,
+admiral!"
+
+"That's right, Mrs. Shaw," he replies, greatly relieved to find the
+sudden storm has subsided.  "When _you_ cease to be cheery and
+good-humoured I shall know that things are going very wrong indeed!
+Now, if you will be good enough to wait in another room for just a
+very little while some refreshment shall be brought to you."
+
+"Refreshment!"  The storm threatens to work back again.  "Thank you,
+we don't require any refreshing so soon after breakfast, as I am told
+you naval officers often do!"
+
+"Well, then, just rest yourselves," hastily comes the amended
+suggestion.  "I am sure you need it.  I promise you that you shall
+not be detained very long."
+
+Dimsdale jumps up eagerly to open the door for the ladies to depart
+into the room indicated; he is glad to find something to do, and glad
+also that the very alarming interview has come to an end.  Mrs. Shaw
+again gathers her convoy and sails majestically away with them.
+
+Dimsdale closes the door gently after them, and falls into a chair
+heaving a deep sigh of relief and wiping the perspiration from his
+brow.
+
+The admiral surveys him with a twinkle of malicious amusement.
+
+"By Jove, Dimsdale," he laughs, "you were let in for it properly that
+time!  You must have had the fright of your life, didn't you?"
+
+But Dimsdale is not to be cowed by a mere man, even an admiral.
+
+"I thought that little girl was simply splendid, the way she stuck up
+for me," he replies sturdily.  "A nice, gentle creature, that!"
+
+"What!" cries the astonished admiral, "why, that's the first time in
+all these years I've known you that I've ever heard you say a good
+word for a woman!"
+
+"Well, she seems to me to be different, somehow, from other girls."
+
+"They all do!" chuckles the admiral.
+
+"I thought so yesterday, too, when you--_when you went off with Mrs.
+Shaw_.  She talked so sensibly then, it seemed to me.  If ever I
+really had to marry, it would be a girl of that sort that I should
+choose for a wife."
+
+"Well," says the admiral, very ungallantly, "I thought she seemed
+rather a weak sort of creature; no mind of her own, so to speak."
+
+"That's the only sort I should like, sir," quickly explains the
+secretary, "I should be too much afraid of any other kind."
+
+"But--if there's any truth in this yarn of yours, the girl may turn
+out to be an anarchist, or a Sinn Feiner, or a pro-German, or
+something of that sort; possibly the whole lot at once."
+
+"Oh, well," says the secretary, turning the matter over with
+deliberation, "I don't know that I should mind _that_ very much;
+every girl must have some sort of a hobby, I suppose."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+The court of enquiry is assembled in the outer office in the
+admiral's house.  It is a large room, formerly the dining-hall when
+the house was in the hands of its private owners.  The picturesque
+details of such a room in a Highland home are still to be traced to a
+certain extent in the ancient oak panelling that covers the walls,
+and the many antlered heads and other trophies of the chase hanging
+upon them.
+
+For the rest, the beauty and dignified grandeur of the old hall has
+given place to a very business-like and official appearance; a long
+table runs down the centre of the room, covered with books, papers
+and correspondence.  Smaller tables have also been dumped down in any
+odd corners, and these also are covered with a litter of official
+documents.  And to complete the hideous newness of the changed aspect
+of the place, the rich, dark panelling is obscured to a large extent
+by rows of shelves made of glaring varnished deal and divided off
+into pigeon-holes numbered in black painted figures.
+
+But the picturesque must yield to utility in war time; and the room
+certainly makes an ideal place for such an enquiry as is now being
+held in it.
+
+Admiral Darlington is president of the court, and he is assisted by
+several other officers belonging to the base and the ships attached,
+captains, commanders, and specialists in various branches.
+
+Every endeavour is naturally made to sift the cause of the disaster
+to the _Marathon_.
+
+The officers and men saved from her are of course the chief
+witnesses, and many of them are examined in the most careful manner
+to find out any facts that may help to throw light upon the
+occurrence.
+
+A seaman who was one of the look-out men on the foc'sle is now under
+examination, the particular point at this stage being to try and
+discover whether the disaster may have been due to a floating mine.
+The possibility of a moored mine has already been ruled out by the
+experts, who have stated their opinion that the exact spot where the
+ship was lost was much too deep for any mine-field to exist.
+
+The seaman gives his answer in a clear and thoughtful way; it is
+evident that he is a man whose opinion is not lightly formed.
+
+He says he is quite sure in his own mind that there was no floating
+mine.
+
+"What makes you so certain about it?"
+
+"Because, sir, it was my duty to look out for them, on the starboard
+side, that is; the night was very clear--it was bright moonlight--and
+the sea was like glass.  A floating mine would show up on such a
+night just as if it were noonday, and I couldn't help but see one if
+there was one to be seen."
+
+This is very definite, even if not conclusive.  But the port look-out
+man, who is also among the saved, says the same thing.  And the
+statement is corroborated by several other men who were on the
+foc'sle at the time.
+
+Presently the interrogations are directed on the possibility of an
+enemy submarine being responsible; but this also is a suggestion that
+does not meet with general favour, for a similar reason as in the
+former case; the wake of a torpedo approaching the ship could hardly
+have failed to be seen.
+
+"But there _was_ a submarine operating more or less in that locality
+a short time previously; the steamer _Botopi_ was sunk by one early
+the same morning."
+
+An officer gets up and replies to this, consulting some notes he has
+in his hand:
+
+"Yes, that is so.  But the course of this particular submarine was
+traced--she was seen twice for a few moments later in the day; and
+her course was one that took her right away from the _Marathon_."
+
+"There might have been another submarine?"
+
+Yes, it is agreed, of course, there might have been; but then there
+is that matter of no wake of a torpedo being seen.
+
+It is all very baffling and inconclusive.  One thing at least is
+certain, namely the place where the explosion occurred.  It was
+for'ard of the engine room, and close to the fore-magazine if not
+actually in it.  And the explosion was so violent that it is
+practically a certainty that it neither originated there, or else, if
+it came from outside, must have set up a secondary explosion there
+almost immediately.  The president of the Court rises in his place
+and looks gravely at one of the _Marathon's_ surviving officers.
+
+"I wish to put to you a very serious question," says the admiral;
+"one which I trust you will answer with due deliberation, however
+curious or even foolish you may think it to be.  You had on board,
+that evening, three people you rescued from an open boat, a gentleman
+and two ladies.  Do you consider it at all possible that one, or all,
+of these three, could have been in any way connected with the
+disaster that happened to the ship?"
+
+The officer reflects for a moment before replying.  "I do not quite
+see how they could have had anything to do with it," he presently
+says.  "They were merely shipwrecked passengers, rescued by the
+_Marathon_."
+
+"That is not quite what I meant," the president says.  "Let me put my
+question again in this way: Supposing these three people had had the
+wish to do some harm to the ship do you think that there was an
+opportunity for them to do so during the time that they remained on
+board?"
+
+The witness again considers the question carefully, and having done
+so answers:
+
+"I cannot give a definite answer to that question.  On the whole, I
+should say it was quite impossible for them to do anything of the
+sort, as they were to the best of my belief in the after part of the
+ship the whole time; but I saw little of them myself, and therefore
+am unable to answer for their movements with complete certainty."
+
+While this witness is giving his evidence, a signalman quietly enters
+the room and going up to the secretary presents him with a long
+signal.
+
+"Marked Urgent-Priority, sir," he informs him.
+
+But this is not the place nor the time for bringing signals of this
+sort, as the signalman ought to know.
+
+"What do you mean by coming in here?" asks Dimsdale in an undertone;
+"and can't you see for yourself that the thing's in cipher?  What's
+the good of bringing it to me?  Take it to Mr. Onslow at once."
+
+"Very good, sir," replies the unabashed signalman; he is quite
+accustomed to having his missives received with snappy remarks, and
+takes very little notice of them.  So he retreats from the room and
+once more offers the signal to Mr. Onslow in accordance with the
+secretary's orders--and again meets with a cold welcome.
+
+Mr. Onslow is an assistant-paymaster of the Royal Naval Reserve, and
+before the war was in a bank.  Now he is acting in the capacity of
+secretary's clerk, and at present is seated in the drawing-room of
+the admiral's house, having been turned out of his office by the
+Court of Enquiry now occupying the room.  At his side, on the floor,
+is a large steel chest, whose open lid displays within a number of
+thickly bound books of all sizes.
+
+Looking at the signal now placed in his hand, Onslow observes the
+paper to be covered with long rows of figures in groups of five; and
+he groans aloud.
+
+"My hat!" he complains bitterly, "if only I'd known what the life of
+a ruddy A.P. was like, I would have joined up as a domestic, or a
+bandsman, or anything.  I thought I was going to have a life on the
+ocean wave and a home on the rolling deep, and instead of that here I
+am stuck in a beastly back drawing-room doing arithmetical puzzles."
+
+So saying, he reaches down to the steel chest and drags out one of
+the fattest books.  Then he proceeds laboriously to decipher the long
+signal.
+
+He has not got very far on with it before he suddenly begins to show
+signs of interest.  He pulls himself up in his chair and turns over
+the leaves of his book much more rapidly.
+
+"Hm!  Better get a move on with this," he remarks to himself; "it
+appears to me that it might be useful to those people inside.
+There's some use in this job, after all!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI
+
+The court of enquiry drags wearily and without any satisfaction or
+definite result.
+
+To tell the truth, none of the officers constituting the court ever
+really expected much result from it.  When a ship has gone down in
+such a manner, blown to pieces almost in a moment and sinking without
+leaving any trace, it is exceedingly difficult to assign a cause to
+the disaster in the absence of any material evidence; and it seems
+likely that this must be counted as one more of the many mysteries
+whose solution lies hidden beneath the waves until such time as the
+sea gives up her dead.
+
+General opinion appears to be on the whole in favour of the theory of
+an internal explosion; but the theory is not strongly held, and is
+supported only by negative evidence.  And against it the fact is
+elucidated that the magazines and shell-rooms were all inspected less
+than two hours before the time of the disaster.
+
+The suggestion to call in the members of the shipwrecked party meets
+with outward approval, but inwardly it is regarded by most of those
+present as rather a bore and a waste of time.  What purpose can be
+served by questioning these people?  What can they possibly know
+about it?  The idea that they can have had a hand in the affair is,
+of course, ridiculous.  Much better cut it out and let the members of
+the court get away to lunch!
+
+But no one dares to utter these thoughts openly.  There is only a
+smothered protest of deep sighs when the secretary states his opinion
+that these witnesses should be brought in and examined separately,
+and not all three together.  More time going to be wasted.
+
+Miss Netta Sheridan is first called; and there is a perceptible stir
+amongst the officers of the court, and a lively recrudescence of
+interest as the pretty girl enters the room.  With two exceptions,
+none of those present have seen her before, and they certainly did
+not expect to see anyone of this delicately beautiful type.  And none
+of them have had any leave for some considerable period, so it is
+long since they had the opportunity of setting eyes upon a pretty
+girl.  Yes, the suggestion of bringing in the shipwrecked party was,
+after all, quite a good one!
+
+And, to the delight of most of the members, the girl is accompanied
+by one whom they all know very well indeed; Mrs. Shaw can be depended
+on to enliven even a dull affair like a court of enquiry!
+
+On her first entrance, however, she gives no sign of any intention to
+brighten up the proceedings by taking the slightest part in them
+either by verbal protest or otherwise.  On the contrary, she seats
+herself in the chair provided for her without uttering a single word,
+and folding her hands resignedly in her lap gazes at the ceiling in
+an air of complete distraction.  But there is a martial glitter in
+her upturned eyes which speaks plainer than any mere words.  It says,
+"I wash my hands of the whole affair!  If you men must behave like a
+parcel of fools, well then you must, that's all!  I suppose you think
+yourselves very wise and important, don't you?  All right, go on!
+And if you are quite determined to make a martyr of this poor child,
+it's your own responsibility, and I can't prevent you!"
+
+At the request of the president of the court, Netta tells her story
+over again from the very beginning, omitting none of the details
+which have been so carefully drilled into her.  It is not a pleasant
+task for the girl.  The whole action has become thoroughly repugnant
+to her mind, and as for her own particular part in it, at no time a
+congenial part, this is now no more to her than a matter for sincere
+repentance.
+
+Yet she still continues _splendide mendax_--which means not so much a
+magnificent liar as a liar in a good cause.
+
+For is it not a good cause to shield her cousin Norah?  And there is
+no other way to do so, no other way so far as Netta can perceive,
+except this one of sticking religiously to her plausible tissue of
+false statements.
+
+And all the time she is speaking she is wondering to herself, "Did
+Dick Baynes manage to still the tongue of Mr. Stapleton, as he
+promised he would?"  She looks around the court, and is much
+comforted to find that Stapleton is not here.  Baynes must have
+succeeded, then.
+
+So far, so good.  But with this consoling reflection comes also the
+remembrance of the price she will have to pay for this help.  Dick is
+not the man to let her off the full payment--nor would she ask him.
+No, the compact must be observed on her side as well as on his.  But
+the thought of it makes her shudder involuntarily.
+
+The action does not escape the notice of her interrogators, who
+attribute it to her weak condition and pity her accordingly.
+Obviously, this witness must be spared as much as possible.
+
+"A few questions more, and you shall not be troubled any further.
+While you were on board the _Marathon_, were you left alone for any
+part of the time?"
+
+"Yes, but not for very long.  For a few minutes at most."
+
+"Where were you then?  In what part of the ship, I mean?"
+
+"I was in a cabin.  I think it was in the cabin belonging to the
+surgeon."
+
+"And what were you doing there?"
+
+"I was carried there in a faint, when I came to myself I had no very
+distinct recollection of what had happened, but found myself lying on
+the bed and the doctor attending to me."
+
+"Did you leave the cabin then?"
+
+"No, I think I must have fainted again, or else have fallen into a
+kind of sleep.  I only remember that they had to lift me from the bed
+when the time came to leave, and to carry me on board the destroyer."
+
+"So that for the little while you were left alone you were really
+unable to move or to leave the cabin unaided?"
+
+"Quite unable."
+
+Another member of the court breaks in here with a pertinent enquiry:
+
+"Is there any means of confirming these statements?  Is the surgeon
+of the _Marathon_ here to give evidence?"
+
+"He is dead, sir," states the president in a tone of quiet rebuke.
+"The questioner should have known this, if he had read the list of
+the saved more carefully."
+
+"God bless the man," comes like a shrill bark from Mrs. Shaw, who
+suddenly lowers her eyes from the ceiling and fixes them in a baleful
+stare upon the offending questioner--"what more evidence does he want
+to prove that the poor girl was ill?  Perhaps he thinks she is
+shamming now!  If he will be good enough to condescend to look at her
+he might see for himself that she is ill enough in all
+conscience--and will be worse still, if this silly nonsense goes on
+much longer."
+
+"My dear, Mrs. Shaw!"--the effort to calm her is, however, not
+needed; she has shut her mouth again, like a steel trap, and resumed
+her effort to discover in the ceiling something of greater interest
+than the affairs of these ridiculous busybodies.
+
+"Thank you, my dear young lady, that will do.  We have no more
+questions to put to you.
+
+"The court desires to thank you for the clear and helpful manner in
+which you have given your evidence, and sincerely regrets that you
+should have been put to such inconvenience in your present weak state
+of health."
+
+A violent sniff is the only comment which Mrs. Shaw deigns to make on
+these courteous remarks.
+
+"Now call in the other Miss Sheridan, if you please."
+
+Norah enters, and takes a seat on the other side of her protectress.
+At the same moment, entering quietly by another door, comes in
+assistant paymaster Onslow, bringing a paper which he at once takes
+to the secretary.
+
+"I brought this to you, sir," he announces, "as I thought it might
+have some bearing on the case.  I have only just finished deciphering
+it."
+
+Having delivered this message, Onslow departs again, to do some more
+of his mathematical puzzles which have been accumulating.
+
+Dimsdale reads the message through, and nods sagely as its import
+dawns upon him.  He rises from his place when he has finished the
+perusal, and going over to the admiral interrupts him just when about
+to call upon Norah for her evidence.
+
+"I think you ought to see this, sir," he tells him.  "It may possibly
+prove to be just what we are looking for."
+
+The admiral in his turn takes the paper and, carefully adjusting his
+glasses, reads it through, forming the words silently with his lips
+as is his habit when dealing with any document of importance.
+
+"Upon my word," he says to himself when he comes to the end of it, "I
+shouldn't be surprised if we have here the explanation of the whole
+thing."
+
+Then, aloud he announces:
+
+"I have here a signal which has only this minute come through.  It
+appears to me to be of sufficient importance to justify my asking the
+court to listen to it.  Of course, it may turn out to have nothing
+whatever to do with the case, but on that point the members of the
+court will form their own opinion."
+
+After this tantalising preface he proceeds to read aloud:
+
+"Urgent.  Priority.  From the Admiralty.  To all ships and vessels.
+Message begins.  Cordite Ammunition Mark 30.A., 007 over 16, type
+B.C. one, has been found to be defective, and is considered liable to
+spontaneous explosion.  All ships having this type of ammunition are
+to disembark it immediately for destruction and are to fill up from
+the nearest ammunition depôt.  Message ends."
+
+There is a mild flutter of excitement amongst all present in the
+momentary silence which follows the reading of this signal.
+
+"Did the _Marathon_ happen to have any of this particular lot of
+ammunition, on board?" asks a member of the court.
+
+"That is a question that can easily be decided," the President
+replies.  And, while one is despatched to produce the necessary
+records which are to provide the answer, he goes on to say:
+
+"I think the court will agree with me that if it should prove to be
+the case that the _Marathon's_ ammunition comprised some of this mark
+referred to, there will be little need for us to pursue our
+investigations any further.  For myself, I may state that my
+suspicions pointed this way, though in the absence of any evidence I
+did not think it right to bring forward mere suspicions.  This
+however, puts a different complexion on the matter altogether.  The
+court will doubtless remember the case of the French ship, _Jean
+Bart_, whose destruction was caused, according to the report of the
+experts who investigated the case, by an internal explosion resulting
+from defective ammunition.  Also the case of the _Fox_, in our own
+Navy some years ago, where a spontaneous explosion in the after
+magazine caused an accident which happily was not accompanied by any
+casualties or the loss of the ship.  I do not say, of course, that we
+can be certain of a similar cause for this present disaster, even if
+it should prove, that the _Marathon_ carried defective ammunition.
+But seeing that no other cause can reasonably be assigned, this would
+afford the only explanation with any sort of evidence in its support."
+
+The records bearing upon the matter are brought in and placed before
+him on the table.
+
+Once more the admiral adjusts his glasses and runs his finger
+carefully down the printed columns.
+
+"Yes, the _Marathon_ had twenty rounds per gun of this mark 30.A.
+stuff."  he announces; and the news makes a great impression upon the
+court.  Evidently there is little use in prolonging the investigation
+any further.  This discovery may not indeed be the true explanation,
+but it is at least an exceedingly probable one, and no other is at
+all likely to come to hand.
+
+Yet, as a matter of form, the remaining witnesses must still be
+heard.  And, recovering from what has proved a somewhat sensational
+winding up of the enquiry, the court suddenly remembers that Miss
+Norah Sheridan has been summoned to give evidence.
+
+The president rises to address her.  But before he can speak, a still
+more sensational development happens.
+
+The door opens suddenly, and two officers burst hurriedly into the
+room--two officers who are neither members of the court nor witnesses
+called to appear before it in evidence.  This is most irregular and
+astonishing; no wonder that everyone present turns in his place, and
+rivets his eyes upon these two outrageous intruders.
+
+No, they have not made an error in the room--they do not withdraw on
+seeing where they have come, nor make any apology for their
+intrusion.  On the contrary, they advance boldly to the president's
+table; one of them, indeed, is almost running in his evident haste.
+
+He is a tall young officer in the uniform of a lieutenant-commander.
+And as he removes his cap it is noticed that his head is tied in
+bandages.
+
+The silence that falls upon the court is broken by a woman's shriek.
+
+Netta averts her eyes in horror from the sight of the unexpected
+intruder, and burying her face in Mrs. Shaw's bosom, cries out:
+
+"Oh, send him away!  Don't let him speak!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII
+
+"Stapleton!" cries the admiral in astonishment, "what is the meaning
+of this, may I ask?  Or rather," turning towards the fleet-surgeon,
+who has hung back a little after entering, "perhaps I should address
+my question to you; why have you brought this officer here?"
+
+"I have an important statement to make," begins Stapleton; but the
+admiral, ignoring him for the present, listens rather to the
+fleet-surgeon's explanation:
+
+"It is entirely against my advice that he has come, sir; but the
+captain urged me to give way on the grounds that this officer's
+health was not so important as the interests of the Service.  So I
+consented at last, unwillingly, and only on the condition that I
+myself should accompany the patient."
+
+"Well, well," says the admiral, finding that this explanation does
+not throw very much light on the affair, "but why has your captain
+sent the two of you here?"
+
+"This officer insists that he has some very important information to
+lay before the court, sir," answers the fleet-surgeon; "but before
+you listen to it, I consider it my duty to tell you that I do not
+consider that he is at present in such a condition of health as to
+render his statements entirely reliable."
+
+"Hm!" says the admiral, somewhat nonplussed by all this--"and what
+may be this important information that you have to give us,
+Stapleton?"
+
+The tall young officer looks around the room before speaking, and his
+eyes light upon Norah, who meets his glance without flinching.  The
+effect of this upon himself, however, is unnerving to the last
+degree; he pales, and turns away his eyes immediately and almost
+seems as though he would fall but for his steadying himself with his
+hand on the table behind him.
+
+"Take your time," says the admiral kindly, "I can see that you are
+not really well enough to come here."
+
+It is a wonder that Stapleton looks distressed, when he is about to
+denounce the girl he loves--or has loved!
+
+Which is it--loves? or, has loved?  As he looks once more towards the
+beautiful dauntless girl opposite him, he puts this question to
+himself--and cannot answer it!
+
+But before everything he is fully determined to do his duty.
+
+Still supporting himself with one hand upon the table he stretches
+out the other at full length and points towards Norah.  For a moment
+or two there is silence; his voice refuses to frame the words that
+must be spoken.  All present in the room look wonderingly at this
+gaunt and silent figure in the attitude of an accuser.
+
+Then he finds speech, and in a hollow and unnatural voice declares,
+
+"I denounce that woman, and her friends, as the cause of the loss of
+the _Marathon_!"
+
+To say that there is consternation in the court is putting it mildly.
+Such a sensation as this is more than the wildest dreamer could have
+anticipated.
+
+But the consternation is not altogether of a serious nature.  Some of
+the members, indeed, show by their astonished faces that they are
+greatly impressed by the dramatic denunciation; but the majority of
+them appear to be rather amused than otherwise--in fact, one of the
+junior members gives vent to a distinct giggle, which he vainly
+endeavours to hide away under a very unconvincing cough.
+
+As for the fleet-surgeon, he is the first to speak, and what he says
+is spoken rather to himself than to the assembled company.
+
+"Oh, he's mad!  Quite mad!  I knew it--I ought never to have allowed
+them to override my opinion," he says.
+
+The admiral frowns slightly, and his genial face clouds over.  This
+is a most unfortunate occurrence in every respect; distressing to the
+young ladies, and bad for Stapleton too.  The fleet-surgeon ought
+never to have brought him here.
+
+But perhaps, after a shocking statement like this, it would be better
+to allow the patient to commit himself a little further in order to
+prove clearly that his mind is for the present unhinged and he is not
+responsible for what he is saying.
+
+So the admiral prompts him.
+
+"Have you any proof, Mr. Stapleton, of this remarkable statement?"
+
+"Yes.  She herself made a confession to me."  The accusing hand is
+again lifted towards Norah.
+
+Quite out of his mind, poor fellow!  But he must still be humoured.
+
+"What sort of a confession?  Tell us."
+
+"It was to this effect, that the whole story of the shipwreck was an
+invention, a deliberate piece of deception and part of a prearranged
+plan.  She, and her cousin here, and the man--Mr. Sheridan--were all
+of them engaged in a plot to blow up one of His Majesty's ships."
+
+"What absurd nonsense!" breaks in a voice overcharged with shrill
+indignation.  "I never heard such rubbish in all my life!  That man's
+not in his right mind--anyone can see that!  He ought to be in bed!"
+
+"Mrs. Shaw--please!"  The admiral once more finds it his duty to try
+and quiet this very disturbing lady.
+
+But the whole of the court is really in sympathy with her.  It is
+preposterous to outrage decency with these wild accusations.
+
+Only one member amongst the whole court appears to take a different
+view of the matter.  Dimsdale bends forward attentively in his place
+at the table and looks with searching eyes first upon Stapleton and
+then upon the girl.  But no one takes any notice of him.
+
+"Hadn't you better take him away?" someone says in an undertone to
+the fleet-surgeon.
+
+Stapleton's ears catch the half-whispered remark.  He perceives
+clearly that he is an atmosphere of unbelief.  Unless he can convince
+his audience, he feels that in another moment he will be dismissed,
+his action attributed pityingly to the wanderings of a brain-sick
+man, and his chances of getting a serious hearing gone for ever.  He
+knows that Norah will not keep back the truth, if put to the test.
+This much faith in her is left with him, the ashes of his dead
+love--_is_ the love quite dead?
+
+"Ask her!" he cries.  Oh, the agony of being forced to make her utter
+her own condemnation!  "Ask her--she will not deny it!"
+
+Norah's eyes again lifted towards him; and there is pride in them.
+Yes, pride and gratitude that he should have this opinion of her!
+
+The admiral perceives that Stapleton is unlikely to be quieted until
+this demand is complied with.  Well, the sooner this very painful
+incident is brought to an end the better!  So he looks apologetically
+towards Norah, with the words,
+
+"You have heard what he has said, my dear young lady.  I am sorry to
+distress you needlessly, but perhaps you will be good enough to reply
+to him.  That will set matters right, once and for all."
+
+No answer comes from Norah's lips.  She seems to be bracing herself
+for an effort.
+
+It is Stapleton himself who gives her strength to speak; ignoring the
+admiral and taking upon himself the part of questioner, he demands,
+
+"Answer the question!  Did you or did you not make a confession to
+me?"
+
+And in strong clear tones comes back the answer, "I did."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII
+
+This time, the sensation amongst the assembled officers of the court
+is one of genuine consternation.  The affair has taken a very serious
+turn indeed.  The mystery of the _Marathon's_ loss is not yet solved,
+but it promises to have a solution now, and a far more terrible one
+than could have been deemed possible.
+
+A quick readjustment of ideas and opinions is necessitated by this
+extraordinary disclosure.  The wild-eyed officer with the bandaged
+head is not out of his mind, after all.  The astonishing announcement
+he has made is not the outcome of a disordered brain but a sober
+statement of fact.  And the two beautiful girls sitting one on each
+side of Mrs. Shaw are not the unfortunate victims of a brutal outrage
+upon the high seas, but the agents of a diabolical and successful
+plot!
+
+All this is extremely disturbing to the mental faculties, which have
+suddenly to take in and assort these unexpected facts.
+
+It is noticeable that Mrs. Shaw alone does not seem in the least
+impressed or disturbed.  _Her_ opinions or ideas need no
+re-adjusting, whatever those of other people may require.  She
+betrays no sign of any emotion except that of slight boredom, and
+does not move an inch except to place her sheltering arms around both
+girls and draw them a little closer to her.
+
+Not yet is there complete belief in the truth of Norah's words; or
+perhaps it would be more correct to say that the import of them is
+not yet completely realised; they are too astounding to be credited
+on the instant.
+
+"Do you really mean," the admiral addressed her, "that you have made
+to Mr. Stapleton a confession that you and the others of your party
+were concerned in the loss of the _Marathon_?"
+
+"Yes, I do mean it," the girl answers proudly, "and I am glad!"
+
+"What!" exclaims the admiral, shocked at such bravado, as it appears
+to him.  "_Glad_ that you were engaged in such a wicked plot?"
+
+"No, glad that I made confession to Mr. Stapleton.  And glad that it
+has all come to light now--though for some reasons I am very sorry.
+And I will tell you all you wish to know--I will indeed.  But I would
+rather that you should ask him."
+
+The admiral falls back in his chair and gasps with more than
+astonishment.  The magnitude of this surprising revelation is simply
+overwhelming.  He is quite unable to find words to express what he
+feels.  He can only continue to act as if this nightmare were real
+daytime truth, and so he puts to Stapleton the query,
+
+"Would you mind telling us, Mr. Stapleton, just what it was that led
+to this confession?  I cannot believe it yet!"
+
+"I am sorry to say it is only too true, sir I myself could hardly
+credit it at first, till events forced it upon my belief.  The
+discovery, or rather the confession, was partly due to my chancing to
+remember some words let fall by Miss Netta Sheridan when on board the
+_Marathon_--words to which I paid no attention when they were first
+repeated to me, as they had evidently been spoken under very great
+nervous strain."
+
+"What words?  What sort of words?" the admiral questions.  "Perhaps
+Miss Netta would repeat them herself?  I should prefer to hear them
+at first-hand."
+
+"Oh--oh--oh!" Netta wails; she is incapable of saying more than this,
+and again buries her head in the bosom of Mrs. Shaw, after the manner
+of the action popularly ascribed to the ostrich when trouble
+threatens.
+
+"Poor girl," cries the secretary, in quite an unusually stern voice.
+"She's--she's ill, sir.  She is not in a fit state to be pressed to
+speak!"
+
+"I will speak for her," calmly says her cousin.  "It is perfectly
+true that we were all three of us in a plot to blow up the ship--but
+it was I alone who had to do the actual deed.  I had the bomb."
+
+"Oh, Norah, Norah," moans the other girl, "must you do this?"
+
+"Was it a statement of this sort you meant when you referred to words
+let fall by Miss Netta on board the _Marathon_?" asks the admiral of
+Stapleton.
+
+"Yes, sir, that was it exactly.  It appears that she suddenly
+repented of her part in the affair, and tried to tell the surgeon and
+another officer about it in order to get them to take the necessary
+action and save the ship."
+
+"Who was that other officer?  Was he rescued, or----?"
+
+"No, sir, he was lost with the ship.  Neither he nor the surgeon paid
+any attention to what they considered the girl's ravings, and in fact
+did not tell me anything about it till much later, and then as it
+were by way of a joke."
+
+"A _joke_!  But you were first lieutenant of the ship; did you treat
+the matter as a joke yourself?"
+
+"No, sir.  Though I thought as they did, that the words were those of
+a girl who was not responsible for what she was saying.  But
+nevertheless, I caused a search to be made throughout the ship, both
+on the upper deck and the main deck, I knew that none of the party
+could have gone further below than that."
+
+"You acted quite rightly.  And you found nothing?"
+
+"Nothing, sir.  And that, I suppose, is what caused me to forget all
+about the matter until later."
+
+"And a pity you ever remembered it!" cries Mrs. Shaw, no longer able
+to contain her indignation.  "No, Admiral Darlington, it's no use
+your telling me to hold my tongue; it's high time that someone
+possessed of a little common-sense should speak a word.  Can't you
+see for yourself that the surgeon on board the _Marathon_ was quite
+right?  _He_ didn't believe a word of all this poor frightened girl's
+imaginary story--_he_ put it down to the right cause, their
+sufferings; and he ought to know, being a doctor, a good deal better
+than this fool of a nephew of mine who has obviously only begun to
+believe in the story since he has had this knock on the head which
+has made him crazy for the time being!  To put it plainly, they are
+all three of them a little unhinged.  As for the girls, on the top of
+all they have been through I suppose they must have somehow or other
+got to hear about the loss of the _Marathon_--you can't keep these
+things secret, however much you may try--and, as a result, they have
+just _dreamt_ this ridiculous story!  I'm surprised at your listening
+to it!"
+
+"Well, Mrs. Shaw, upon my word, I'm more than half inclined to agree
+with you," mutters the admiral.  And the whole of the court, braced
+by the cold douche of Mrs. Shaw's plain common-sense, begins to think
+that perhaps it has been a little too ready to give credence to the
+sensation offered it.
+
+Stapleton himself is to a certain extent impressed by this view of
+the situation.  He forgets, for the moment, the meeting of Dick
+Baynes and Norah in his presence, and the disclosure of her having
+been in Glasgow the previous week.  Nor can he be blamed for
+forgetting, after such a shaking-up as he has had in falling over the
+cliff.  He almost begins himself to believe that they have all of
+them been the victims of hallucination; and there is the opinion of
+the fleet-surgeon to back up this belief.
+
+"May I ask a question, sir?"  It is Norah who is unexpectedly
+addressing the admiral.
+
+"Certainly you may, my dear Miss Sheridan."  The admiral is actuated
+by very kindly feelings towards the girl whom he regards with more
+than a little pity--"of course you may.  What is it you wish to ask?"
+
+"I would like to ask Mr. Stapleton if he thinks that I was in my
+right mind at the time I made my confession to him."
+
+It is a terribly difficult position, that in which Stapleton finds
+himself now.  He came here to accuse and denounce this girl it is
+true; but his accusation has been coldly received and largely
+discredited--in so far that he himself is half converted to the view
+that the whole charge is a phantasy of the imagination.  And, now,
+the thought uppermost in his mind is how he may save Norah from the
+consequences of her own action; for he has made one great discovery
+since he came into the room--that his love for her is not dead, but
+stronger than ever.
+
+"What have you to say to this, Stapleton?" says the admiral, noting
+the silence of the young officer.
+
+"I would rather not answer the question, sir."
+
+"But I am afraid I must insist upon your doing so."
+
+"Yes," Norah adds to the admiral's quiet command, "answer me, please."
+
+"Why do you torture me?" cries the unhappy lover, goaded beyond
+endurance, "can't you see that you are making me----"
+
+"Answer me!"
+
+"Come, Stapleton," urges the admiral, "we are waiting."
+
+Thus constrained, Stapleton at last makes answer.
+
+"She seemed to me to be entirely in possession of her senses."
+
+"And did you believe what I told you?" continues Norah.  She will not
+spare him.
+
+Again he takes refuge in silence.
+
+"Will you answer her, please?" somewhat impatiently speaks the
+admiral.
+
+"I could not help believing her."
+
+"Thank you.  There is only one more question I want to ask you," the
+girl continues.  "Having heard all that has been said here, what do
+you now believe to have been the cause of the blowing up of the
+_Marathon_?"
+
+Instead of replying to her, Stapleton faces the president of the
+court, and in a clear, steady voice makes a moving appeal for mercy.
+
+"Sir," he cries, "I submit that the questions now put to me are such
+as I ought not to be called upon to answer, for the reason that they
+all tend to prejudice the case against these young ladies.  I came
+here to accuse them, true!  It was my duty to do so.  But it is not
+my duty to help them to condemn themselves.  And there is another
+thing which must be said--neither of these two girls actually had a
+hand in depositing the bomb on board.  One of them dissociated
+herself from the attempt at a very early stage, and the other--this
+lady who has tried so hard to influence this court against
+herself--not only repented of her share in the plot but really did
+her utmost to prevent it being carried out."
+
+"What do you mean by that last remark?  Explain yourself please," the
+admiral says.
+
+"She had the bomb concealed in her dress, and according to
+arrangement, her part in the affair was to place it somewhere in the
+ship before making her escape with the others.  She refused to do so.
+And when the man of the party tried to seize the bomb from her, she
+resisted him, in the effort to save the ship from destruction."
+
+"Dear me!" ejaculates the president, "well, well!  This is really a
+most extraordinary state of affairs altogether.  What on earth could
+have induced you," turning to Norah, "to take part in such a terrible
+business, such a wicked scheme?"
+
+"I was brought up from childhood to hate the English," Norah answers.
+"My father hated them, and trained me up in his own ideas.  At first
+I made his opinions my own just because they were my father's; but
+afterwards I came to hold them and believe in them on my own account.
+You see, my father was killed by the English.  And that broke my
+mother's heart--she died, too.  Do you think I had great cause to
+feel friendship for the nation that brought them both to their death?"
+
+"Poor girl, poor girl!" exclaims the admiral, almost forgetting her
+complicity in the plot in his sympathy for her troubled life.  "Then
+you say it was just your inherited hatred of England that prompted
+you to take part in this conspiracy, you and your cousin here?"
+
+"No, sir, not Netta.  She was cowed by her brother, and persuaded by
+myself.  You must not blame her, I tell you; in her heart she was
+against it from the very beginning--only, she was forced into it.
+Netta is innocent--at any rate in intention; as for myself, I do not
+want any excuses to be made for me, and I neither ask nor desire any
+mercy to be shown me."
+
+"You were fully determined, you say, to carry out this wicked plan to
+the very end?"
+
+"Yes, I really meant to do the deed.  I hated all the English."
+
+"And--you hate us still?"
+
+"I--no, not now; God forgive us, I cannot do so now."
+
+"But did you not, then, actually place this bomb in the ship?"
+
+"No, sir, it was taken from me by my cousin, Patrick."
+
+"Then, did he find means to conceal it on board the _Marathon_?"
+
+"I do not know.  But I suppose he must have done so, since the ship
+blew up."
+
+This proves too much for good Mrs. Shaw.  She cannot keep silent any
+longer.
+
+"Oh, I have no patience with any of you!" she exclaims, in superb
+disregard of officialdom.  "Norah, I should like to shake you!  I
+should like to shake all of you!  Isn't it enough for you to know
+that there was a lot of bad gunpowder on board the ship?  What other
+explanation do you want?  Nasty dangerous stuff at the best of times,
+and goodness only knows how dangerous it must be when it has turned
+sour and gone bad or whatever it is that happens to it.  You seem to
+have forgotten all about that, and here you are listening to a
+crack-brained fellow and a couple of hysterical girls with a
+cock-and-bull story of a plot and a bomb!  Really, for a lot of
+grown-up men, I'm ashamed of you all!"
+
+There is something in what she says.  Her words are not without their
+effect upon her listeners.  On all sides there is evident by the
+expression of their faces that they would much prefer to believe in
+the more rational explanation supplied by the knowledge of the
+defective ammunition, and that they are not quite certain that they
+are not making fools of themselves in giving a hearing to this
+strange story which appears more and more as it goes on to be based
+on nothing firmer than an over-excited imagination.
+
+"I think, sir," remarks an officer, voicing the opinions of the rest,
+"that while no doubt this that we have just been told should of
+course be thoroughly sifted, we certainly ought not to lose sight of
+the possibilities of the defective cordite; and I cannot refrain from
+giving my opinion that when we have concluded the examination it is
+in this that we shall find, so far as we can ever hope to find, the
+real cause of the _Marathon's_ loss."
+
+A chorus of murmured approval follows the speaker as he ends this
+direct little speech; and the universal wish is evidently for
+suppressing the melodramatic story-tellers; nobody really believes in
+them--their story fails to convince.  And in all probability if they
+can be decently dismissed now, the whole incident will presently be
+allowed to sink into oblivion.
+
+But there is always, at a public gathering, which the majority are
+anxious to see ended, some annoying person who is possessed of an
+equally keen desire to prolong the proceedings.
+
+It is so on this present occasion.  Rising in his place, an officer
+of the court suggests:
+
+"There is one thing which I consider we ought to do at once, without
+waiting further, in regard to this matter."
+
+All the others cast glances of profound disgust upon this officious
+busybody.  The luncheon hour has long gone by, forgotten in the
+excitement of the unexpected interlude; and now, if there is more
+talking to be done that will not brook delay, heaven only knows what
+hour it will be before anyone is able to get a feed!
+
+"Well, and what is it?"  The admiral, unconsciously affected by the
+same corporeal needs as the others, is just a little short-tempered.
+
+"I think, sir, that we ought to hear the statement of the other
+witness of the--the three shipwrecked passengers, the man of the
+party."
+
+They have forgotten Patrick Sheridan!  Only this annoying suggestion
+recalls his existence to the minds of the assembled officers.
+
+"Yes, perhaps you are right," says the admiral, suppressing a sigh.
+He is very hungry!  "I suppose we ought to examine him as well as the
+others.  Perhaps he will be able to account for these--these somewhat
+improbable theories we have been listening to.  Bring him in, and
+let's get it over!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV
+
+Patrick Sheridan had a disquieting fear of this Court of Enquiry ever
+since he first heard that it was about to be held, and that he
+himself would be required to be present at it, and give evidence.
+
+"Ye never can tell," his anxiety prompts him to reflect, "what may
+slip from your tongue without thinking, the way they bother you with
+their cunning questions till ye're in the divil's own danger of
+letting fall the truth whether ye will or no!  'Tis the mean,
+underhand way to treat a man!  What chance does it give him to keep
+cool, and tell lies with an honest face?"
+
+He resents the prospect of this unfair treatment very bitterly.
+
+One hope alone buoys him up--that the girls will not be present to
+contradict his story, and so spoil his chances of deceiving the
+court.  Alone, he should not find this task a very difficult one; he
+only has to repeat the story he has already told and refrain as far
+as possible from overloading it with details which may not bear
+investigation.  And so far as he knows, there is not likely to be any
+doubt cast upon his narrative by the officers of the court.
+
+So far as he knows!  His anxiety would be considerably greater than
+it already is if he only knew how far his story has been brought into
+suspicion even before he has told it!
+
+The first blow to his sense of security is when he enters the
+court-room and perceives Norah and Netta seated opposite to him.  A
+flush of fear and anger wells up over his dark visage--anger, because
+he thinks that this secretary-fellow has betrayed him by failing to
+deliver his letter to Norah telling her not to appear at the court,
+nor to allow Netta to come.  A dirty trick!  If a man cannot trust
+another to perform an important errand like this, what is there left
+in the world of honour and loyalty, and the obligations of duty
+between gentlemen, and what faith can any longer be placed in human
+nature?
+
+Yes, the girls are here, worse luck, so there can be no doubt that
+his note was never delivered!
+
+One does not like to imagine how deeply wounded would be Patrick's
+sense of outraged honour, if only he knew that his letter had indeed
+been delivered, but had first been opened and read clandestinely!
+His hopes for the future of humanity would probably have dwindled
+into utter despair!
+
+Up to the moment of his entering the room Patrick has felt, on the
+whole, that matters have gone fairly well, and he has every cause for
+self-congratulation: with any luck, he and the girls should be able
+to get away from this vicinity very soon, perhaps this same
+afternoon, and hide themselves in some place where they can pursue
+their plans for another attempt of the same sort.
+
+But, next time, the plans will have to be laid very much more
+carefully, he can see that!  A first experiment always reveals many
+little details that have been overlooked in spite of the belief that
+every care has been taken; another time, the experience gained in
+this first endeavour will teach many a useful lesson.
+
+Still, however faulty the first plan may have been, there is this to
+be said--that the _Marathon_ has undoubtedly been blown up, and now
+lies where Patrick would like to have the remainder of the British
+Navy lie, at the bottom of the sea.  The news of it was not long in
+reaching his ears; scarcely had he been an hour on board the Depôt
+ship when he heard of it, and he had great difficulty at the time in
+checking the grin of delight that involuntarily expressed his real
+feelings; once he had obtained the mastery over his features it was
+an easier matter to frame the suitable words to signify his horror
+and grief at the dreadful catastrophe.
+
+Patrick Sheridan does not present a very attractive appearance as he
+glares around the room where the court is assembled.  His face is
+livid and his eyes are bloodshot.  The hours he has been spending
+alone shut up in his almost hermetically-sealed cabin have not tended
+to give him a healthy look; and the continual whisky-drinking in
+which those hours have been mostly spent has added the last touch to
+the brutalising of a face already darkened and distorted by the evil
+workings of his mind added to the natural moroseness of his
+disposition.
+
+He throws a look of anger and contempt at Norah, who meets his glance
+fearlessly; another glare of still more bitter hatred he turns upon
+the secretary.
+
+A chair is brought for him, and he is politely requested to be
+seated.  The admiral greets him with a courteous, if somewhat cool,
+good-morning.
+
+Such politeness is in itself quite enough to arouse Sheridan's
+suspicions.  He does not like the look of things at all; this
+behaviour savours too much of the unnatural kindness which gaolers
+show to a man about to be executed, when there is no point of denying
+a little to one who is shortly going to lose all.
+
+This very uncomfortable sensation is not without its effect upon
+Patrick's excited mind.  He ignores the steps taken for his personal
+comfort, waving angrily aside the man who has politely brought a
+chair for him, and shouting to the court at large:
+
+"I protest against this unwarrantable treatment!  I'd have ye to
+understand that I consider ye a set of bullyin' tyrants, iv'ry wan o'
+ye!  Haven't I already given ye all the information within my power
+about the shipwreck?  An' for why have I been kept shut up in a room
+by myself, and then brought here like a prisoner in a dock?  I
+protest against it, I say!"
+
+This fellow doth protest too much, thinks Dimsdale; but he discreetly
+keeps his thoughts to himself, and attempts no interference with the
+routine of the enquiry.
+
+"I am very sorry indeed if you have been put to any annoyance or
+inconvenience," says the suave voice of the admiral; "and I hope you
+will quite understand that the only object in requesting you to be
+present here this morning is that we may obtain your kind assistance
+in our attempts to clear up the mystery of the _Marathon_.  We shall
+not keep you very long, if you will be good enough to answer a few
+questions which I wish to put to you."
+
+Patrick is to a certain extent soothed by this friendly speech.  He
+begins to realise, too, that he has made a mistake in openly showing
+his suspicious fears.  So, endeavouring to rectify this initial
+error, he replies:
+
+"I'll answer anything ye like to ask--though, mind you, I still
+consider you are treating me very unhandsomely."
+
+"I wish for nothing better than to be able to make you an apology,
+presently, Mr. Sheridan.  It is only fair to tell you, to begin with,
+that a very extraordinary charge has been made here in this court
+against yourself and the two ladies of your party--no less than a
+charge of conspiracy to destroy one of His Majesty's ships of war.
+In other words, to put the matter plainly, one of the _Marathon's_
+officers has stated that you all contrived to get taken on board for
+this exact purpose; and one of the young ladies, at any rate, makes
+no attempt to deny the story, but as a matter of fact confesses the
+truth of it."
+
+Patrick has managed with the utmost difficulty to keep his features
+under control during this speech of the president; fortunately for
+him, his general expression is so malevolent that a slight additional
+shade of angry terror makes scarcely any perceptible difference.
+
+"How can ye give heed to such crazy fancies, sir?" he asks with
+assumed nonchalance--"sure, the terrible experience they have been
+through has turned their brains!  Ye haven't brought me here, I
+trust, to question me on such fool's talk as this?"
+
+He speaks in an assured tone of half angry, half amused, contempt;
+hoping by sheer audacity to avoid this terribly dangerous pitfall
+which has yawned before his feet.  And succeeds better than he has
+dared to hope, not knowing how well his words attune with the
+sentiments of the court.
+
+"Exactly," says the president; "our sincere hope--and I think I may
+say, our expectation--is, that it may prove to be, as you say, an
+invention of overheated imaginations; and in that case, we shall be
+very ready to make allowance for the very natural mental distress
+resulting from all these shocking events."
+
+Sheridan nods in acquiescence, thinking it best to say as little as
+possible and hoping devoutly that the incident may be regarded as
+closed.
+
+And in fact the president goes on to talk of other matters.
+
+"Now, the first question I wish to put to you is--did you sail from
+Galveston, Texas, in the S.S. _Botopi_?"
+
+"I did."  This is fairly safe ground, and Patrick feels very little
+anxiety in replying to questions of this nature; he has already told
+the same story in other ears, and is well up in all its details; they
+won't catch him out here!
+
+"And were these young ladies in your company?"
+
+"They were."
+
+"What relation are they to yourself?"
+
+"One of them is my sister--or to be more correct, my half-sister; and
+the other is my cousin."
+
+"Had you been long in America before you came across in the _Botopi_?"
+
+"We had been settled there for about three years."
+
+"Then there is no truth whatever in the statement made to this court
+by an officer now present, that you did not really come from America
+at all?"
+
+"No truth whatever.  I cannot imagine how such an idea can have
+entered the mind of anyone.  I have letters on me to prove that I was
+in Texas up to the time of the _Botopi's_ sailing, and can give you
+as many references as you require, in America, testifying to my
+living there for three years previously."
+
+All of which is perfectly true.  Patrick has taken these obvious
+precautions, and is well supplied with witnesses and testimony of all
+kinds.
+
+"And you say that your steamer was torpedoed and sunk in the early
+morning of the day before yesterday by a German submarine?"
+
+"She was that."
+
+"Do you happen to have a passenger-list with you?"
+
+"No.  I had one, as all the saloon passengers did, but we were
+obliged to leave in such a divil of a hurry that I left all my papers
+behind with the rest of my gear.  Everything is lost now, of course."
+
+The court accepts without question this most natural explanation.
+Dimsdale is alone in noting that it was a little inconsistent of the
+man to have the forethought to bring along with him letters by which
+he might be identified.
+
+"But," remarks the president, "I must inform you that the _Botopi's_
+agents in Galveston have been cabled, and have replied that your
+names were not in the passenger-list."
+
+"That, sir, is easily explained," Sheridan replies.  "We did not
+decide to leave until the last minute, when all the berths were
+taken.  Fortunately three of the intending passengers cancelled their
+departure, and I was able to buy from them the berths which were
+booked in their names."
+
+"H'm!  And what were the names of these people, Mr. Sheridan?  Can
+you remember?"
+
+"Indeed, then, I can.  They were a maiden lady, a Miss Pearson, and
+two brothers by the name of Newman."
+
+"I suppose there is no means of verifying this statement, since you
+do not happen to possess a passenger-list?"
+
+The secretary comes to the rescue here.  "The Company have sent
+another cable since the first one, sir," he informs the admiral,
+"giving a complete list of the _Botopi's_ passengers."
+
+"Good!  Have you got it here?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"And do you find any mention in it of these names which Mr. Sheridan
+has quoted?"
+
+The secretary runs rapidly through the list, consulting a cablegram
+which he has picked from the pile of papers on the table before him.
+
+"Miss Pearson--yes, that name's here; and--what did you say were the
+other names, Mr. Sheridan?"
+
+"Newman.  There were two of them, brothers, and they were to have
+shared the same cabin, the cabin which the girls afterwards had."
+
+"Mr. James Newman; Mr. Robert Newman," reads the secretary from his
+list.  "Yes, they are both mentioned."
+
+"Really, Admiral, if you will permit me to say one word," breaks in
+once more the protesting voice of Mrs. Shaw.  "It seems very
+ridiculous to go on with these absurd and unnecessary enquiries.  Mr.
+Sheridan's explanation is obviously true, and you can go into the
+matter of his proofs any time you wish.  And by that time, I hope,
+these young people's nerves will have got a little stronger, and they
+will have forgotten all their bad dreams."
+
+"I am more than half inclined to think you are right, Mrs. Shaw."
+
+"Of course I am right!  Am I ever anything else?"
+
+"In this present instance at any rate I must admit I think you have
+been right all along.  Of course, if it had not been for that very
+important evidence about the _Marathon's_ defective ammunition, we
+might have been obliged to admit our inability to assign a reasonable
+cause for the disaster.  As for this other matter, I think we have
+all of us come to the same conclusion.  I shall of course have to ask
+you, Mr. Sheridan, for those proofs of your statements which you say
+you possess or can procure, and I have little doubt that they will
+prove satisfactory.  For the present, we can consider this enquiry
+closed."
+
+There is a sigh of relief throughout the room--and a most heartfelt
+one from Patrick Sheridan.  And all of those present make their
+preparations for leaving--when they are interrupted by the sharply
+insistent voice of the secretary:
+
+"One moment, sir, if you please!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV
+
+All eyes are directed towards the secretary, and his attempt to
+prolong the enquiry is greeted with no very good humour.  In fact, he
+has made himself suddenly very unpopular with his "one moment, sir,
+if you please"--which of course means a good many moments and a
+corresponding postponement of lunch.
+
+Nor is this general feeling the only ground of resentment against
+him.  The poor man is once more made to feel the lash of Mrs. Shaw's
+tongue.
+
+"Oh, it is you again, Mr. Dimsdale?" she upbraids him--"are you not
+tired yet of bullying these poor creatures?  It was your fault from
+the start, I remember, that they were ever brought here.  A nice,
+manly action, is it not, to subject two poor sick girls to such
+treatment."
+
+"I--I am very sorry, Mrs. Shaw, very sorry indeed," stammers the poor
+man.  And indeed he speaks sincerely, since he has conceived
+something more than a liking for one of these two girls, both of whom
+he considers as victims rather than organisers of the diabolical
+plot; for he is thoroughly convinced--he is the only member amongst
+the whole court who is convinced--of the reality of the plot, and he
+not only knows it to be his duty to expose it, but feels that this is
+his only chance of so doing.
+
+So he says, "I am very sorry, Mrs. Shaw.  But I do not wish to
+question these ladies at all.  It is Mr. Sheridan to whom I would
+like to address a few brief questions, with the permission of the
+President."
+
+"Go on then, Dimsdale," grudgingly assents the admiral; "but be as
+quick as you can."
+
+"I will, sir.  In fact, if Mr. Sheridan can satisfy me on the very
+few points I wish to put to him, I shall not delay the court more
+than a very few minutes."
+
+The man thus referred to looks darkly at the secretary, and a shade
+of perplexity creeps over his face.  He was beginning to feel quite
+cheerful and almost to look so, at the happy turn which events were
+taking for him.  But now the affair is apparently going to be
+re-opened--and Sheridan does not like it at all!
+
+What fresh questions are going to be put to him?  What details are
+there that he has not already supplied?  _What new trap is now being
+laid to ensnare him?_
+
+Yes, that last doubt really accounts for the sudden spasm of fear
+that clutches at his heart; there is a trap, he knows it, and it is
+going to be one which will take him all his wits to avoid.
+
+How he hates the smooth-faced secretary with the piercing eyes!  How
+he hates him, and--fears him!
+
+Really, this will not do--this cold dread is making him feel quite
+unnerved; he must pull himself together, or else he will never be
+able to reply convincingly, and his hopeless condition will become
+evident to the whole court--almost sufficient of itself to condemn
+him in their eyes!
+
+In the midst of his bewilderment the secretary's first question
+breaks in upon his ears through the buzzing, humming noise like the
+sound of many waters which has quite unaccountably been filling them
+these last few moments.
+
+"Will you please tell me, Mr. Sheridan--what colour was the _Botopi_
+painted?"
+
+The blow has fallen!--oh, fool that he was, not to have thought of a
+thing like this before!  How _could_ he have omitted to make certain
+of such a simple detail?
+
+There is only one thing to do--to hazard a guess and hope that it may
+chance to be a lucky one.
+
+Foolishly, he discounts his credibility by not answering boldly at
+once.  Instead, he hesitates, and speaks only after a pause; this
+would be almost enough to make him appear to be guessing, even if he
+were really speaking from knowledge; but he is off his balance
+altogether.
+
+"Black," he replies.
+
+"Are you quite certain?"
+
+The question is evidently intended to nail him down to his statement;
+but it suggests to him an opportunity for hedging a little.
+
+"Yes," he replies, feeling his way as he speaks; "but it was an
+indistinct sort of black--it might have appeared a kind of grey in
+some lights; or even a very dark green."
+
+"Thank you."
+
+Dimsdale gives no indication whether he is satisfied with the reply
+or not.  But at least it is something to the good that he does not
+deny its correctness.  Perhaps it is correct, then!  Sheridan begins
+to feel a little hope.
+
+"And how many funnels had she?"
+
+This second question comes without any comment on the former one.
+Sheridan feels himself on firmer ground here.  Of all the passenger
+ships he has ever seen, and he has seen a good many in his time, the
+vast majority have had two funnels.  Cargo tramps, of course,
+generally have one funnel only, and some of the gigantic liners have
+three or four; but the _Botopi_ was neither cargo-tramp nor
+first-class liner, and so he has much less hesitation than before in
+making his reply:
+
+"Two."
+
+"Quite sure?" says the persuasive voice of the secretary--"are you
+certain they didn't look as if they might be three, or even four, in
+some lights?"
+
+This man is mocking him!  With his smooth sarcastic tongue and his
+calm emotionless face he is simply playing with him!
+
+"There were two, I'm after tellin' ye," suddenly growls the baited
+man.
+
+"Thank you."  Again the quiet and unquestioning acceptance of his
+reply.  This time, however, Sheridan does not feel quite so happy
+about it; the absence of comment on Dimsdale's part has now become
+ominous rather than assuring.
+
+A tense silence settles upon the room; everyone from the President of
+the court downwards looks expectantly towards the two men fencing
+with question and answer; it is somewhat brought home quite clearly
+to everyone that these two are fighting a duel to the death.
+
+Netta looks on with grave anxiety and seems to have given away to
+utter despair, as if she knows that the catastrophe hanging over them
+cannot be warded off for long now.  As for Norah, more than once she
+opens her lips to speak, and half rises from her chair; but Mrs. Shaw
+checks her by a motion of the hand--as though she too feels that the
+ring should be kept clear for the two antagonists.
+
+Stapleton, who has sunk back apathetically in a seat on finding his
+revelation of a conspiracy dismissed with scant attention, now finds
+his interest fully re-awakened, and leans forward breathlessly so
+that not a word shall escape him.
+
+The atmosphere is electric.  Even the fleet surgeon who came with
+Stapleton and has been trying for the last quarter of an hour to
+induce his patient to return with him now desists from his
+well-intentioned efforts and rivets his gaze on the two antagonists
+as keenly as the rest.
+
+Yet the secretary gives no indication of having any startling
+surprise in store, or of being in any way dissatisfied with the
+replies he has so far received.  Each question, as soon as it is
+answered, he drops entirely and goes on to another subject.
+
+For the third time he propounds one of his quite commonplace queries:
+
+"During the voyage home, was the _Botopi_ stopped by any British
+man-of-war?"
+
+This is rather an awkward poser for Sheridan; yet he must make some
+sort of reply.  It occurs to him that perhaps his interrogator is
+merely bluffing and does not know the correct reply to his own
+question.  In that case Sheridan need not care greatly what answer he
+gives.  But suppose Dimsdale does know?  Well, then he must hazard a
+Yes or No, and try to find some way of explaining his mistake if he
+happens by ill-luck to hit upon the wrong answer.
+
+It is pretty certain, the wretched man reflects, that the ship was
+stopped.  The cordon has been drawn so closely that very few
+Transatlantic vessels succeed in escaping the meshes of the net; and
+every steamer that is sighted, Sheridan knows, is stopped for
+examination.
+
+So, after all, there is not such a very great risk about the reply.
+He makes up his mind to chance it.
+
+"Yes," he says, "we were held up by a warship and afterwards allowed
+to proceed."
+
+"How many days after you had left Galveston did this happen?"
+
+What can the fellow be driving at?  Well, no matter, this question is
+easier to evade than the previous one.
+
+"I think it was either on the third or the fourth day out; but I am
+not quite certain about it; it took place with so very little delay
+and fuss that it made no very distinct impression upon my memory."
+
+"Did this take place in the daytime or during the night?"
+
+It will be much safer to say in the night; for then Sheridan will be
+spared from describing things that happened during his sleep.
+
+"It was in the night," he therefore makes answer.
+
+Once more the secretary drops the subject but this time he does not
+turn to a fresh one nor renew his questions.  Instead he bends over
+his pile of documents, searching till he finds what he wants.
+Turning them rapidly over he at length picks out a paper from the
+heap, and spreads it on the table before him.
+
+Then, turning to the President of the court he begins!
+
+"Sir, it was not to be expected that Mr. Sheridan should be
+acquainted with the conditions under which the tenth Cruiser Squadron
+does its work, or else he might realise that now and then, very
+rarely, it is true, a vessel does succeed in getting through the
+patrol without being sighted.  Now, this report,"--holding one of his
+papers up to view--"is one that was received by wireless on the very
+morning when the _Botopi_ was sunk; it reads as follows:
+
+"'_S.S. Botopi, Galveston to Hull, sailed on the eighth instant,
+should be brought in for examination if met._'--which proves clearly
+enough that the vessel was _not_ met by any of our patrols up to that
+date.  Yet Mr. Sheridan, who says he was a passenger in the _Botopi_,
+tells us that she was met and held up on the third or fourth day out,
+and that this happened during the night; he is quite clear about
+these facts."
+
+"An' so we _were_ met an' stopped, as I'm tellin' ye," shouts
+Sheridan, who sees that his only chance is to brazen it out; "'tis
+all a big mistake somewhere--that report ye have in your hand, sir,
+is not correct at all!"
+
+"Possibly," says the Secretary drily.  "It may be, of course, that
+the patrol ship which Mr. Sheridan declares to have met the _Botopi_
+had some accident to her wireless and consequently was unable to
+signal the report.  But let that go----"
+
+"Indeed you may well say that!  An' let _me_ go too.  Can ye not take
+the word of a gentleman but must throw doubts upon me statements?
+'Tis time we put an end to this foolishness.  Come, Netta, and Norah,
+too.  We'll not be staying any longer!"
+
+"Not so fast, Mr. Sheridan, please," quietly insists the
+secretary--"They say, sir," again addressing himself to the admiral,
+"that even the most cunning criminals invariably overlook some
+important details.  In this present case it would have been as well
+for the success of the plot to have found out something about the
+general appearance of the _Botopi_."
+
+"What d'ye mean," breaks in Sheridan, trying to shout the other man
+down now that he sees the trap closing; "I refuse to submit to this
+dirty sneaking cross-questioning!  'Tis a plot to desthroy me.  Keep
+you silent now, ye low scoundrel!"
+
+The secretary pays not the slightest attention to this outburst, but
+goes on in the same calm voice:
+
+"The report I have just been quoting from, calling for the _Botopi_
+to be brought in for examination, gives, as is the usual custom, a
+description of the general appearance of the vessel.  And I may add,
+that I have this morning cabled to the agents in order to make
+certain that this description is correct.
+
+"Mr. Sheridan has informed us that the steamer had two funnels also,
+that her hull was painted black--though he qualifies this statement
+to the extent of saying that she might possibly appear green or grey.
+But the Company's own account of the vessel states that she is a
+one-funnelled ship, and that she is painted in accordance with the
+request of Germany _in broad bands of red and white_.
+
+"Now, I think it must now become clear to this court how utterably
+unreliable this man Sheridan's statements are; in fact, they are
+nothing but a tissue of lies from beginning to end.  And it will be
+presently seen that he was not shipwrecked--that there was a very
+cunning and ingenious plot to blow up the _Marathon_--and that this
+fellow is at the bottom of it all!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI
+
+Dimsdale brings his accusing words to a close in a silence that is
+almost painful in its intensity.  All eyes are upon him.  He remains
+calm and unperturbed as ever, and there is no flush of triumph in his
+face but rather on the contrary a slight pallor, befitting one who
+has accomplished a duty, to his own cost.
+
+A gurgling throaty sound diverts the gaze of all from the secretary
+to the fallen victim of this duel.
+
+Sheridan is trying to speak, and is clutching at his throat as if
+something is there that blocks the passage of his words.  His livid
+face has changed to an angry blotchy purple, not pleasant to look
+upon.
+
+The game is up and he knows it.  Then the furious torrent of his
+abuse finds utterance.
+
+"Curse, ye, ye murdherin' lawyer," he shouts at Dimsdale, "may the
+divil take ye!--I'll keep it up no longer--why should I?  Sure, 'tis
+my glory and pride to call myself England's enemy!  I defy ye!  I'll
+fight ye fair, and I'll tell ye all!"--he glares around the court
+with such fierce blazing eyes that more than one man involuntarily
+lowers his gaze before them--"No need for that sneaking hound to drag
+the truth from me by inches--I'll not demean myself, talking to such
+trash!  'Twill be my proudest boast that I did what I could, an' may
+there be many to follow after me!  I did not sail from America, then.
+'Twas from a little spot on the coast of Scotland that I put out, the
+very same day the _Marathon_ left harbour, knowing well the way she
+would pass, an' prayin' in me heart I might be the desthruction of
+her--as I would be of ivery ship in the cursed English Navy if 'twas
+in my power to be!  I hoped that I might fool thim on board of her
+and bring them to their death!"
+
+A gasp of horror at this devilish avowal escapes the admiral's lips.
+But for this, not a sound nor a word is raised in interruption as
+Sheridan goes on:
+
+"An' we did fool ye, fine!  I could have laughed aloud at the lot of
+ye, poor simpletons that ye were, ready to listen to the first
+foolish tale that was poured into your long ears!  'Tis the English
+all over--and ye think yourselves the cleverest nation on earth.
+Pah, I deshpise the lot of ye."
+
+"Then it was you that--Call in the guard, we must have him under
+arrest," exclaims the President.
+
+"Under arrest is it?  Dye think I hadn't made provision for the
+chance of that same?  Bad luck to me that I failed to blow up the
+ship!  Though as things turned out----"
+
+"_He failed!  Listen to him--do you hear what he says?  He failed to
+blow up the ship!_"--It is Stapleton who cries aloud like an inspired
+prophet to whom has been revealed a life-giving message; and the
+glory of this enlightenment transfigures his face with a wonderful
+radiance.
+
+He staggers across the room even as he speaks, and stands at Norah's
+side.  He would show her, it seems, that his love is not dead, and
+would have her to understand how utterly glad he is that his hateful
+duty has been accomplished without bringing the dreaded results upon
+her head.
+
+But she sees nothing of her lover's pleading looks and gestures.  She
+has hidden her face, and is cowering down before the stinging fury of
+Patrick's invective.  Well she knew that her cousin would not spare
+her.
+
+"As for you, you traitress," he snarles at her, "black shame to you
+for preventing me!  To hell with you for a perjured girl that has
+brought disgrace upon her country and dishonoured her mother's grave!
+Ah, then, don't think ye'll escape for your treachery--you and your
+fine lover for whose sake ye've sold yourself.  I say, to hell with
+ye--to hell with ye all!  _The Saints above be praised, I've still
+got the bomb!_"
+
+Before anyone can realise what the man is doing, much less make any
+attempt to prevent him, he plunges his hand beneath his coat and
+draws from its hiding place there something which he holds closely to
+his eyes and fumbles with hastily.
+
+What this object may be is not clearly discernible; it is hidden by
+Sheridan's hands except for a momentary gleam of white metal.
+
+But Norah knows and so does Netta.  Both the girls spring to their
+feet and raise their voices simultaneously in a warning cry.
+
+Too late!  Patrick has succeeded in securing the moments necessary
+for adjusting the bomb for instantaneous explosion, and with a
+mocking laugh of triumph he flings it to the ground in the midst of
+the court.
+
+There is a shriek from Netta--the first start of a movement on the
+part of everyone to make a rush for the doors; as if there could be
+time to save themselves--and the crashing noise of the metal bomb
+falling on the wooden floor.
+
+And no other sound follows.  The bomb has failed to explode!
+
+Already most of those present are crowding at the doorways.  Sheridan
+stands with folded arms, smiling contemptuously; he knows that it is
+only an affair of an instant, and that before anyone can force a way
+from the room the whole building will be wrecked to atoms.
+
+Mrs. Shaw, brave woman, has not joined in the general stampede.  She
+is seizing the two girls and endeavouring to pull them down to the
+ground as the safest place where little safety of any sort is to be
+found.
+
+But Norah tears herself away.
+
+Ah, what is the rash girl about to do?
+
+Stapleton sees, and leaps after her to prevent her; but he is not in
+time, she is too quick for him.
+
+She dashes across the floor of the room to where the bomb lies in the
+midst.  It is but a second since it has left Sheridan's hands.  He
+too, starts forward to stop her, but she evades him.
+
+She has picked up the bomb and is holding it tightly in her hand.  No
+time to alter the adjustment now--there is only one thing to be done,
+and she does it.
+
+She takes a few quick running strides towards one of the windows, and
+hurling the bomb with all her strength sends it crashing through the
+glass.
+
+It scarcely touches the ground outside before it explodes with a
+deafening roar.  The whole building rocks, and the windows of the
+room are blown inwards, the clatter of broken glass and splintered
+framework adding to the noise and confusion.
+
+Stapleton has reached Norah's side a moment after the bomb leaves her
+hand, and is bending over her to shelter her with his body as the
+building sways with the concussion.
+
+A moment, and the danger is seen to be over.  The force of the
+explosion has spent itself in the open air, and save for a few
+falling stones and loosened plaster, broken windows and unhinged
+doors, the house is unscathed, and so are all within it.
+
+Still holding Norah in his arms, Stapleton whispers incoherent words
+of love and admiration for her deed.  He scarcely knows what he is
+saying; but he knows that he will never let her go away from him
+again.
+
+And, indeed, she pays but little heed to her lover's words.  Gently
+disengaging herself from his arms she turns from him and moves
+towards the admiral, who is one of the few who have not attempted to
+escape from the room; both he and Dimsdale have kept their places
+calmly through it all.
+
+Norah is standing before the admiral and looking up appealingly into
+his kindly face.  She comes to him as a suppliant; but as a suppliant
+who claims rather than begs for mercy.
+
+"It was quite true," she says in a low voice, but so clearly that
+everyone can hear what she is saying, "there was a bomb--but you have
+seen what has become of it!  That bomb was never used for the wicked
+purpose it was intended for; whatever it was that sank the
+_Marathon_, it was no deed of ours."
+
+"Bad cordite, right enough; no doubt about that now!" interrupts
+Dimsdale, speaking quite cheerfully as if it were something he is
+greatly pleased about.
+
+"And I saved you, I saved the lives of all of you," continues Norah's
+pleading voice.  "That makes some difference, doesn't it?  Will that
+atone for what I have done?"
+
+The admiral hardly knows how to answer her in words, though his
+moistening eyes show what he thinks of the brave girl who has risked
+her own life to make amends for the past.
+
+It will not be a difficult matter to deal leniently with these girls
+who have been misled and have now striven their hardest to make
+amends.  Indeed, there is not much that can be said to their charge
+even in intention.
+
+With Patrick Sheridan, however, the ease stands very differently.
+Not only has he deliberately made the attempt to destroy one of His
+Majesty's ships, an attempt thwarted by those who were to have been
+his accomplices, but now there is this other murderous outrage of
+attempted wholesale slaughter.  But where is Sheridan?  He is not to
+be seen.  Has he succeeded in escaping in the general confusion?
+
+What is that little group of officers over there in the corner of the
+room as if with the purpose of hiding something from view?
+
+From the group emerges the fleet surgeon, Stapleton's fleet surgeon,
+and coming up to the admiral whispers to him to get the ladies out of
+the room as quickly as he can.
+
+No charge will ever be laid against Patrick Sheridan.  The justice of
+Fate has found him out, fulfilling that ancient doom pronounced upon
+the doers of evil; "_they have digged a pit for others and are fallen
+into the midst of it themselves._"
+
+Just a tiny fragment of the steel bomb has winged its way in a flight
+so direct that surely the hand of Destiny must have guided it, and it
+lies buried in the brain of the man who devised both the infernal
+instrument itself and its still more infernal purpose.
+
+Norah divines the meaning of the fleet surgeon's whisper; she has
+guessed what it is that lies concealed by that hedge of men.
+
+"No need, sir, to hide it from me," she says, undaunted even by this
+dread blow, "I know what it is!  Whatever else Patrick was, he was no
+coward; he was willing to die with the rest of us for what he thought
+right.  Let me go to him.  He was a brave man."
+
+"And you are brave, too," says the admiral, "it is you who have saved
+all our lives!"
+
+"At the risk of your own, Norah, my beloved," adds Stapleton.
+
+"What did that matter?" exclaims the girl, locking her hand into that
+of her lover.  "That was a very little thing!  What value is my life?"
+
+"It is everything in the world to me," Stapleton answers her.
+
+
+
+_Printed in Great Britain by Wyman & Sons Ltd., London and Reading_
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77260 ***