"Is there no hope for them?" Mrs. Lacy whispered to Otway.
"None," replied the supercargo in a low voice. "None." Then he urged her to go below, as it was not safe for her to remain on deck. She went at once,
and met her husband just as he was leaving their cabin.
"What is the matter, Nell?" he asked, as he saw that tears were in her eyes.
"Three poor men have been carried overboard, Wilfrid. They were in the deck-house asleep ten minutes ago—now they are gone! Oh, isn't it dreadful, dreadful!" And then she sat down beside him and wept silently.
Breakfast was a forlorn meal—Robertson and his officers were not present, and Otway took the captain's seat. He, too, only remained to drink a cup of coffee, then hurriedly went on deck. Lacy rose at the same time, but at the foot of the companion, Otway motioned him to stop.
"Don't come on deck awhile, if you please," he said, "and tell the ladies to keep to the cabin."
"Anything fresh gone wrong?"
"Yes," replied the supercargo, looking steadily at the clergyman—"the ship is making water badly. Don't you hear the pumps going? Tell the ladies not to come on deck—say it is not safe. And if the old Weidermann girl hears the pumps, and gets inquisitive, tell her that a lot of water got into the hold when that big sea tumbled aboard. She's an inquisitive old ass, and would be bound to tell the other ladies that the ship is in danger."
Lacy nodded. "All right, I'll see to her. How long has the ship been leaking?"