The water in the cabin swirled across
the floor as the ship was restored to an even keel. The movement
dislodged the packet of letters. It fell, and Elsie rescued it a
second time. Christobal watched her with undisguised admiration.
"Really," he said, "I find you wonderful."
"Why?" Certainly she might be pardoned for seeking an explanation of
any compliment just then.
"Why? Por Dios! Excuse me, but that slipped out sideways. Just
imagine any woman being able to attend to a dog and pick up a bundle of
letters at the very instant the ship appeared to be slipping off into
deep water!"
"Is not that the best thing that can happen?"
"My dear young lady, we should sink instantly."
"How do you know?"
"Well--er--I don't exactly know, but I assume that the hull was broken
long since."
"I don't see why you should take that for granted. These very
movements seem to me to argue buoyancy. Somehow, I feel far safer here
than if I were--"
She was interrupted by the opening of the door, and the consequent roar
of the gale. It was Walker, the engineer, a lank, swarthy man, with
long black mustaches which drooped forlornly down the sides of his
mouth.
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