Courtenay, removing his glistening head-gear, advanced a couple of

paces into the saloon. He seemed to avoid looking at any individual,

but took in all present in a comprehensive glance. Elsie, who had

exchanged very few words with him since the first afternoon she came on

board, thought he looked worn and haggard, but his speech soon revealed

good cause for any lack of sprightliness.

"I regret to have to inform you," he said, with the measured

deliberation of a man who has made up his mind exactly what to say,

"that the ship has been disabled by some accident, the cause of which

is unknown at present. The unfortunate result is that she is in a

position of some peril."

There was a sudden stir among the Chilean stewards, whose wits were

sharpened sufficiently to render the captain's statement quite clear to

them. Isobel uttered a little sob of terror, and Mrs. Somerville

gasped audibly, "Oh, my poor children!" Elsie, her lips parted, sat

forward on the piano-stool. Her senses seemed to have become

intensified all at once. She could see everything, hear everything.

Some of the Chileans and Spaniards crossed themselves; others swore.

Count Edouard breathed hard and muttered "Grand Dieu!" She wondered

why the captain and Mr. Tollemache, who had returned from his

stateroom, and was standing in the half light of a doorway, should

simultaneously drop their right hands into a coat pocket. Mr.

Tollemache, too, gave a queer little nod to the American, who had moved

near to Isobel and placed a hand on her shoulder. Elsie was quite sure

that Gray whispered: "For goodness' sake, don't cause a scene!" And,

indeed, he did ask Isobel and Mrs. Somerville, with some curtness, to

restrain themselves.

Courtenay, with one cold glance, chilled into silence the muttered

prayers and curses of the Chileans.

"It may be necessary, about daybreak, to endeavor to beach the ship,"

he continued. "I wish you all, therefore, to guard against possible

exposure by wearing warm clothes, especially furs and overcoats. Money

and jewelry should be secured, but no baggage of any sort, not even the

smallest handbag, can be carried, as all other personal belongings must

be left on board. Passengers will gather here, and remain here until I

send one of the officers for them. The companion doors will not be

closed again, but the decks are quite impassable. You hear for

yourselves that they are momentarily swept by heavy seas."

He turned to the chief steward.

"Your men, Mr. Malcolm," he said, "will begin at once, under your

directions, to draw stores for each boat. There need be no hurry or

excitement. We are, as yet, many miles distant from the nearest known

land. If the wind changes, or one of several possible things happens,

the Kansas will suffer no damage whatever. I wish all hands to be

prepared, however, for the chance, the remote chance, I trust, of the

ship's being driven ashore, and I beg each one of you to remember that

discipline and strict obedience to orders are not only more necessary

now than ever, but also that they will be strictly enforced."




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