THE WRECK OF THE "TEMPEST QUEEN"
"What's wrong?" asked Veath, alarmed by the agitation of the two soldiers.
"Captain Shadburn estimates that we are two hundred miles out of our course, away to the south. It's impossible to get our bearings without the sun, and the Lord only knows where we're running to," said Hamilton, holding to the door casing.
Hugh and Lady Huntingford had joined the others by this time and were listening with blanched faces to the men in uniform.
"It's as black as ink outside," said little Lieutenant Gregory, shivering in a manner most unbecoming in a soldier. "As long as they can keep the boat out of the trough we'll ride the waves safely, but the deuced danger lies in the reefs and little islands. We may be dashing into one of them at this minute."
"You're a cheerful hero," cried Hugh indignantly. "What's the use of imagining a thing like that? It's time enough to think about it when we strike the reef; and, besides, it can't help us any to cry. We can't leave the ship for a walk back to dry land. We're here to see the thing to the end, no matter where it is, and I don't believe in howling before we're hurt."
"That's right," agreed Veath. "Possibly we're out of the course. That happens in every storm that comes up at sea."
"But there are hundreds of reefs here that are not even on the chart," cried Gregory.
"Well, there have been thousands of ships to escape them all, I fancy," said Ridgeway boldly. The two women were speechless.
"And there have been thousands of storms, too," added Veath, a sort of wild exultation ringing in his voice, plain to Grace if not to the others.