“Thank Heaven, we are past Gravesend. Now, sir, you may have your light again.”
She pressed the button, and the electric light shone over her lustrous hair, revealing a sparkle in her glorious eyes and a flush on her cheeks.
Frank looked at her, and forgot everything in amazement at her beauty.
“I dare say,” she said, with a faint smile, “you are wondering who we are?”
“I don’t know,” said he, “and I don’t care, so long as I”—he meant to add—“am with you,” but he paused in time at the hint of a haughty surprise in her eyes.
She looked at him steadily a moment with a glance that implied some new interest, then, once more switching off the light, went out without a word, closing the door behind her.
He listened and heard her voice on deck, when he again framed his face in the port-hole.
The bow lights had been relit, and the ship had slackened something of her tremendous speed.
“I wish to Heaven,” said the Captain, “those funnels would not draw so well. Just look at that shower of sparks; they’ll give notice of our coming.”
“Why not slacken speed until you are close on the guardship?”