In a moment Corinna herself came out on deck, deathly pale but mistress of herself. Her eyes sought Evan's eyes. His heart swelled that she had thought of him in her extremity. Amazement filled her eyes at the sight of the laughing, singing children, amazement and a passion of relief. She closed her eyes, and swayed, clinging to the door-handle.
"Sing!" cried Evan quickly. "That's your job!"
She quickly pulled herself together, and throwing back her head let her full voice go out. It gathered up the ragged chorus, and gave the song a fresh start. Fog began to creep around the vessel.
"Inside with you!" cried Evan. "Show those crazy kids in there how to sing!"
He and Corinna herded them in by the two doors. The singing procession streaming into the cabin had an effect little short of magical on the bedlam within. Corinna changed the tune to Annie Laurie. The cabin roof rang with it.
Little Domville was rushing to and fro in well-meant but futile efforts to reassure the children. Evan seized him and planted him at one of the doors.
"Let no one go out!" he commanded. "And sing!"
Another youth rushed up. "Corinna, are you all right?"
"Sure, she's all right! Everybody's all right!" cried Evan. He put him at the other door. "Stand there and sing!"
The young man yielded instinctive obedience to the commanding voice.