"It will keep seepin' through," he said, "and wop! Suddenly the whole
bulkhead'll go."
"Don't get caught," replied Dan. "Give us three more hours, chief.
Oh, I say, there's not a drop getting into the fire room yet? Thank
God for that!"
"For what?"
He faced about quickly and looked into the eyes of Virginia Howland.
She was pale, but her face was brave. "I had just come out on deck,"
she said, "because somehow I was getting nervous--I wanted to be--to be
near the Captain." She smiled. "I heard you talking through the
speaking-tube; I didn't mean to listen--pardon me; I couldn't help it.
We're in danger, then, are we? Don't hesitate to answer truthfully,
Captain Merrithew."
"Why," replied Dan, "we--steady there, Mr. Terry; you men at the wheel
attend to your business. Excuse me," turning to the girl,
"danger--why, we've been in danger all the time; else I wouldn't be up
here."
"You are evading," said the girl, slowly. "But perhaps you are right.
I can say I trust you, Captain--we all do. I want to tell you again
how we all appreciate your--what you have done--putting the yacht
straight and--"
"I am doing it for myself as much as for you. More, perhaps; who
knows?"
The girl gazed intently at his square-cut, bronzed face. Then she
looked straight into his steel-gray eyes, peering hard ahead from under
the flat peak of a cap he had picked up on the bridge.
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