Glancing
quickly around, she formed her resolution, and throwing an arm around
each, said gently,
"Come! I have often heard you speak of the library. We can go there
and be more quiet, and it will give us a better lookout on the forward
deck. Won't you invite me to go there with you?"
"But papa--if he should look for us here?"
"I will send him a message. Ah, here's Mr. Allyne--have you come to
tell us something?" for there was a desperate look in the young man's'
face that startled her.
"No, only--good-by! They need more help below, and I am going down.
You have these young ladies in charge, Madam?"
"Yes. And tell their father he will find the three of us in his own
cabin when he needs us." Her eyes, sharp and imperative, questioned
him--"Is there great danger?" But she did not speak.
He bowed gravely, and said, as if in response to her request. "I will
tell him." Then, as Hope followed the lady, he gently intercepted her.
"Please shake hands once more," he said, and with out a word she laid
her icy palm to his.
He bowed over it respectfully.
"God bless you for the good, pure girl you are! Good-by."
He hurried out and Hope, dazed and dumb, followed the others. They
found the little room, where they had passed so many homelike hours,
sadly demoralized. One of the great windows was shivered to splinters,
and through it projected a heavy spar, now safely wedged from further
harm, and as they gazed out through the other great panes, it was upon
a scene of intense desolation.
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