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88 himself perilously near the gunwale, Alan peered into the fog.

"Can't make out anything," he grumbled. "Start her up—but 'ware reef!"

"Nothing doing," Barcus retorted curtly. "The motto is now, Full speed astern!"

"Oh, come! We can't leave a woman—in a fix like that!" "Can't we? You watch!" Barcus grunted, rocking the flywheel with all his might; for the motor had turned suddenly stubborn.

"Alan!" Rose pleaded, "think what it means. I know it sounds heartless of me—my own sister—but you know how mad she is—wild with hatred and jealousy. If you take Judith into this boat, it's your life or hers!"

"If we leave her out there," Alan retorted, "it's her life on our heads!"

At this juncture the motor took charge of the argument and settled it in summary fashion. With a smart explosion it started up unexpectedly in reverse, at one and the same time precipitating Alan overboard and almost dislocating the arm of Mr. Barcus. Alan struggled to the surface just in time to see the bows of the lifeboat back away and vanish into the mist.