She had hovered about him ever since the first day of the voyage, not in an obtrusive way, but as if she liked to be near him—as if there were something trustworthy and protective about him.

Perhaps one reason for this was that her seat had been next his at table—while they had been able to sit at the table—and once or twice, when she could not attract the attention of the steward, he had handed her what she wanted, and helped her bountifully to fruit when otherwise she would have been neglected.

When the storm came on with such violence that those not 12confined to their berths were obliged to take to the floor of the saloon for safety, she had crept as near to him as she dared, and though she had sat there all day long, he had never spoken to her once, or appeared to heed her presence, but remained, instead, wrapped in his own thoughts.

12

Suddenly the ship rose upon a mighty wave—up, up she went, until every trembling passenger held his breath with awe; then she plunged headlong down into the raging deep, with a sinking, sickening sensation that chilled the blood and made the flesh creep with fear.

The next moment another terrific wave struck her, with a noise like the roar of a hundred cannon, and with a force which made her quiver like a frightened creature from stem to stern; and in the dread pause which followed, and which was fraught with horrible suspense, the little maid clasped her small hands and cast an appealing glance at her gray-haired companion.

He, seeing it, smiled grimly as he asked, in rather a gruff tone:

“Afraid, sis?”

Before she could answer him the vessel gave another tremendous lurch, and she was rudely precipitated almost into the arms of her questioner.

He caught her just in time to save her from being dashed against the iron post by which he was sitting, and when she had recovered her breath a little, he put her gently down beside him, keeping one strong arm around her to save her from a second fall.

“This is pretty rough weather. Are you afraid?” he asked again, and looking with something of pity down upon her white face.

“It startles me to have the vessel pitch and tremble so, and those dreadful waves seem as if they want to swallow us; but I know that nothing can harm us, unless——”

13“Unless 

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