“Why do you say at present?” cried Miss Denning, eagerly; and she caught my arm.
“Don’t say anything to frighten her, Dale,” said Mr Denning; “she is half-hysterical now.”
“Indeed no, John dear; I am quite calm. Tell us, Alison. It is better to know the worst.”
“I only meant,” I said hastily, “that there is sure to be some fire left smouldering below, where the water will not reach it, and it may break out again two or three times—just a little, that’s all. But we shall watch it better now. No, no,” I cried, “I don’t mean that; because no one could have watched better than you did.”
“Starboard watch, ahoy!” cried Mr Brymer, cheerily. “How are you, Miss Denning?” but before she could reply the mate was up with us.
“Thank you for keeping watch so well. Any idea what time it is?—we hadn’t been asleep long, I suppose.”
Mr Denning uttered a little laugh.
“It must be close upon morning,” he said.
“Morning? Impossible! What do you say, Miss Denning?”
“I think it must be very near day,” she replied. “It is many hours since you left us.”