cannon. I wish they'd hurry up and tell us all about it."
"Where were you?"
"Out on the after-deck."
"What were you doing there?"
"I—I had an errand," responded Philip.
With this Gerald mercifully intermitted his catechism. He put himself back in his berth. Philip's quick ear caught a new sound—the pumps were started. Surely that was a hint of very certain and evil omen.
"Wait! I'll be back directly," he said, hurrying into the passage-way. There was a great stir in the saloon. "Yes, it's true!" he heard somebody exclaim. "Don't you hear the pumps?" "Who says so?" called out another. A man hurrying past him was inquiring, "How big is it? Why don't they tell us that?" There could be no mistake. Part of the trouble was a leak.
"Don't be alarmed, ladies and gentlemen," said the mate; he was coming quickly down from the group forward, followed by a dozen clamorous passengers. "We've found a leak in the hold. A barrel of explosive stuff went off, but they're getting the best of it, all right. The
