Isobel laughed softly. The two standing in front of the bookcase

started apart, with a sudden consciousness that they were speaking

unguardedly, for Isobel's mirth had mockery in it--"there was a

laughing devil in her sneer."

"By the way, where is Joey?" she asked.

The dog answered her question by appearing, with a stretch and a yawn,

from beneath a bunk. He had heard his name in Courtenay's voice. That

sufficed for Joey at any time.

"What a strange animal!" went on Isobel. "I should have thought that

he would bark, or peep out at us, at the least, when we came in."

"Joey had a disturbed night," said Courtenay. "We passed the evening

in the Hotel Colon, and he regards South American hotels as the natural

dwelling-place of cats, and other bad characters. Here, he is at home,

and he knew that I was present."

"Otherwise, he would have classified us as suspicious?"

"He is far too discriminating. What do you say, pup?"

Joey looked up at his master. Apparently, he found the conversation

trivial; he yawned again, capaciously.

"You darling! You must have slept with one eye open," said Elsie,

stooping to pat him.

"Oh, take care!" cried Isobel. "He may bite you."

"Not he! When you see that wistful look in a dog's eyes, have no fear.

He wants to speak then. You won't bite me, will you, dear?" And Elsie

sank on one knee, to stroke Joey's white coat; whereupon Joey tried to

lick her face.

"Between the Stevenson Library and the captain's dog you are installed

as a prime favorite on board the Kansas," commented Isobel. The

other girl rose hurriedly. She had caught the touch of malice in the

smooth voice.

"Captain Courtenay is too polite to remind us that we are intruders,"

she said lightly. "We forget that he is busy. Joey, candidly canine,

did not try to hide his feelings."

Isobel swung her chair round to face the door.

"This is quite the best place in the ship," she said. "I am very

comfortable, thank you. Please don't send us away, captain."

Before Courtenay could answer, the officer of the watch looked in.

"Cape Caraumilla bearing sou'west of the Buei Rock, sir," he announced,

and vanished again.

"Don't hurry," said Courtenay, taking up his cap. "I must leave you

for a few minutes."

He was gone, with Joey at his heels, and there was a brief silence.




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