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 careful and not let him jump overboard or find a piece of rope or a knife—those fellows are very apt to do away with themselves.”

“No danger, sir,” responded Simmons. “Everything of that sort has been removed from his state-room, and I have one man outside his window and another on guard at the door.”

“Yes—we must deliver him alive,” went on Ponsonby, as if Chilvers were a wild animal destined for a zoological park. “It would never do to lose him!”

“No, sir,” said Simmons. “It ’s beginning to rain,” he added.

It was the same advance gust of drops that had driven Mrs. Trevelyan into her cabin. As the light had died out of the west an army of clouds had arisen to the north and east and was now sweeping down upon the ship, bearing in its wake a solid bank of fog. The Captain stepped to the speaking tube and ordered Binks to bring up his rubber coat.

“I ’ll take this watch, Simmons,” he said gruffly. He had no inclination to sit at the same table with Mrs. Hubert Trevelyan during another long ship’s dinner. His dignity would