There were only three of them, the others having been destroyed or blown overboard. These were quickly filled by the frantic passengers and emigrants, who scrambled into them in spite of the orders of the captain to await his commands.

They took everything into their own hands, and as soon as the seats were taken, began to push off, regardless of the appealing cries of those remaining on board, the anger of the captain, and the threats of the sailors.

Mr. Rosevelt and Star were among those left, and the old man pleaded for a place for the young girl, calling them inhuman brutes to seek their own safety and leave a delicate girl to perish.

“The boats will hold no more!” the frantic creatures cried. “Every one must look out for himself in such a time as this.”

“Wretches! have you no feeling? Are there no fathers and mothers among you? Will you see this child go down before your very eyes? You must take her!” he cried, wildly, authoritatively.

A feeling of shame seemed to come over them; there followed a moment of consultation, a counting of those in the different boats, then a reluctant consent was gained to take her into one of them.

“Be quick!” they cried, as a rush of flame in the center of the steamer warned them that a new and terrible danger threatened; 21and Mr. Rosevelt led her toward the rope ladder swinging from the vessel’s side.

21

Star was very pale, but her great blue eyes had a strange, determined gleam in them.

“Are you afraid to go down the ladder?” Mr. Rosevelt asked, as he paused before it.

“Not if you will go first and hold it for me,” she answered.

“But I cannot; they will not take us both,” he said.

She drew back from the edge of the vessel, and looking up into that aged face, said, tremulously:

“Sir, you have dear friends who are waiting for you, and who would mourn your death. I have no one who loves me; I was going among strangers, and I should not be missed. You go; I am not afraid to die.”

He looked at her in mingled awe and admiration, while those brave words, “I am not afraid to die,” smote him keenly.

“Child,” he said, huskily, “it must 

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