Tollemache tried to grip his pipe in his teeth. He failed. It fell on
the iron floor.
"Oh, this is rotten!" he growled. "Why couldn't he have been spared? No
one would have missed me. I don't suppose Jennie would care tuppence."
The _Kansas_ rolled heavily. He waited a few seconds for the expected
shock, but she swung back to an even keel. Then he stooped to pick up
his pipe, and his mouth hardened.
"'Spared!' by gad!" he said. "What rot!" That roll of the ship was
caused by an experimental twist of the wheel. Courtenay, peering into
the darkness through the open window of the chart-house, saw that the
weather was clearing. He had evolved a theory, and, for want of a
better, he was determined to pursue it to a finish. The _Kansas_ was
being swiftly carried along in a strong and deep tidal current. Happily,
the wind followed the set of the sea, else there would be no chance of
success for his daring plan. His expedient was the desperate one of
keeping the vessel in the line of the current, and, if day broke before
he reached the coast, he would steer for any opening which presented
itself in the fringe of reefs which must assuredly guard the mainland.
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