The wild soughing of the wind rendered her words indistinct. And the captain had no time for explanations.
“In here!” he shouted to Gray, who had helped Isobel to enter the chart-room, the first refuge available on this exposed deck.
“Sharp with it!” he thundered, when Isobel was unwilling to face the storm again. The men took their cue from his imperative tone. Gray clasped Isobel in his arms and lifted her bodily through the doorway. The others followed his example. Soon the three women were with Elsie in the cabin. Isobel, by sheer reaction from her previous hysteria, was sullen now, and heedless of all considerations save her own misery. When she set eyes on Elsie she snapped out:
“You here!”
“Yes. Captain Courtenay brought me to his cabin after our return from the fore saloon.”
“Oh, did he? And he left me with those devils beneath!”
They both heard Courtenay’s hurried order:
“Leave the ladies here until we can come for them. Follow me at once.”
The door slammed behind the men. Even the missionary was fired to action by Courtenay’s manner. Elsie helped Mrs. Somerville to a chair. Then she turned to Isobel, and said gently:
“It is a slight thing to discuss when any moment may be our last, but the captain placed me here while he went to bring you. He had gone only a few seconds when the ship struck.”