storm only to encounter a worse fate?”

Then, as she saw the sailors getting down the life-boats, a sudden thought seemed to inspire her. She darted from the deck down into her state-room, where, opening a tiny trunk, she seized a package of papers, which she pulled up from 19beneath her clothing, and thrust it into her bosom. She then took from a pretty box several articles of jewelry, which evidently had belonged to her mother, and fastened them about her clothing, putting some of them into a pocket of a skirt and pinning it securely together. This done, she darted out and up to the deck again.

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CHAPTER II. SAVED.

SAVED.

Here she found the captain, sailors, and passengers—those of them who were unharmed—hovering around the life-boats, eager to spring into them the moment they were lowered, and gathered, from what she could hear in the confusion, that the boiler had burst, and the accident had caused such serious damage to the vessel that she was fast sinking.

As she went nearer the captain she saw Mr. Rosevelt. He looked gloomy and anxious, and very pale, while he was eagerly scanning the faces of the people about him, and holding a life-preserver in his hands. His face lighted as he turned and saw her, and he heaved a long breath of relief.

“I was looking for you,” he said, in a hoarse voice, while he immediately proceeded to fasten the preserver about her person.

He then drew her arm within his, led her to the side of the vessel, and stood quietly waiting until the boats were lowered and the captain should bid them enter.

“Have you anything valuable that you wish to save—if we 20are saved?” he asked, seeming suddenly to remember that she might have something.

20

“Yes, I have a few important papers and my mother’s jewels. I went down to get them after the explosion. How did it happen?” she asked.

“No one knows. It was one of those accidents which cannot be accounted for. The whole fore part of the ship is nearly blown to pieces,” he returned, gloomily.

Star shuddered, and then turned to watch the men let down the boats.

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