“I have never been in America.”
“Ah! I see so many faces, of course, that I sometimes fancy I know a man when I don’t. Well, I hope you will have a pleasant voyage, sir.”
“Thank you.”
No. 18 was not a popular passenger. People seemed instinctively to shrink from him, although it must be admitted that he made no advances. All went well until the Gibrontus was about half-way over. One forenoon the chief officer entered the captain’s room with a pale face, and, shutting the door after him, said—
“I am very sorry to have to report, sir, that one of the passengers has fallen into the hold.”
“Good heavens!” cried the captain. “Is he hurt?”
“He is killed, sir.”
The captain stared aghast at his subordinate.
“How did it happen? I gave the strictest orders those places were on no account to be left unguarded.”
Although the company had held to Mrs. Keeling that the captain was not to blame, their talk with that gentleman was of an entirely different tone.