"And it might have been one of ours," sobbed Mrs. Keith, clasping her babe to her breast, while her eye glanced from one to another of her darlings. "Ah, how frightened I was when I heard the cry. I don't know how I got up the cabin steps! for I thought it was perhaps—"
Tears choked her utterance; tears of mingled gratitude for herself and sorrow for the bereaved mother.
"Yes, it might have been you, Cyril or Don; and think how poor mother's heart would have been broken, and mine too," Mr. Keith added, sitting down and taking one on each knee. "Now do you want to try jumping across like that boy did?"
They shook their heads, gazing up into his face with awe-struck countenances.
The sad event of the morning seemed to have exerted a subduing influence upon all the passengers; it was a very quiet day on board.
The calm continued throughout the day but a breeze sprang up in the night and the vessels parted company.
By daylight the breeze had stiffened into a wind that made the lake very rough; the ship tossed about on the waves with a motion by no means agreeable to the land lubbers in her cabin and steerage; everything not made fast to floor or walls went dashing and rolling from side to side of stateroom or saloon; few of the passengers cared to breakfast, and those who made the attempt had to do so under serious difficulties—table and floor being both inclined planes, sloping now in one direction now in another.
They passed a miserable day, confined to the cabin, for the rain was falling heavily and the great waves would now and then sweep across the deck.
Still the captain assured them the storm was not a bad one and they were in no danger.