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into it； and the wind's failing！〃
It was true。 In the last few moments all that vast glistening
surface of metallic blue which stretched so far to windward
appeared to be slowly eaten away as if by some dull； corroding
acid； the distant horizon line of sea and sky was still distinct
and sharply cut； but the whole water between them had grown gray；
as if some invisible shadow had passed in mid…air across it。 The
actual fog bank had suddenly lost its resemblance to the shore； had
lifted as a curtain； and now seemed suspended over the ship。
Gradually it descended； the top…gallant and top…sails were lost in
this mysterious vapor； yet the horizon line still glimmered
faintly。 Then another mist seemed to rise from the sea and meet
it； in another instant the deck whereon they stood shrank to the
appearance of a raft adrift in a faint gray sea。 With the complete
obliteration of all circumambient space； the wind fell。 Their
isolation was complete。
It was notable that the first and most peculiar effect of this
misty environment was the absolute silence。 The empty； invisible
sails above did not flap； the sheets and halyards hung limp； even
the faint creaking of an unseen block overhead was so startling as
to draw every eye upwards。 Muffled orders from viewless figures
forward were obeyed by phantoms that moved noiselessly through the
gray sea that seemed to have invaded the deck。 Even the passengers
spoke in whispers； or held their breath； in passive groups； as if
fearing to break a silence so replete with awe and anticipation。
It was next noticed that the vessel was subjected to some vague
motion； the resistance of the water had ceased； the waves no longer
hissed under her bows； or nestled and lapped under her counter； a
dreamy； irregular； and listless rocking had taken the place of the
regular undulations； at times； a faint and half delicious vertigo
seemed to overcome their senses； the ship was drifting。
Captain Bunker stood near the bitts； where his brief orders were
transmitted to the man at the almost useless wheel。 At his side
Senor Perkins beamed with unshaken serenity； and hopefully replied
to the captain's half surly； half anxious queries。
〃By the chart we should be well east of Los Lobos island； d'ye
see？〃 he said impatiently。 〃You don't happen to remember the
direction of the current off shore when you were running up here？〃
〃It's five years ago；〃 said the Senor modestly； 〃but I remember we
kept well to the west to weather Cape St。 Eugenio。 My impression
is that there was a strong northwesterly current setting north of
Ballenos Bay。〃
〃And we're in it now；〃 said Captain Bunker shortly。 〃How near St。
Roque does it set？〃
〃Within a mile or two。 I should keep away more to the west；〃 said
Senor Perkins； 〃and clear〃
〃I ain't asking you to run the ship；〃 interrupted Captain Bunker
sharply。 〃How's her head now； Mr。 Brooks？〃
The seamen standing near cast a rapid glance at Senor Perkins； but
not a muscle of his bland face moved or betrayed a consciousness of
the insult。 Whatever might have been the feeling towards him； at
that moment the sailorsafter their fashionadmired their
captain； strong； masterful； and imperious。 The danger that had
cleared his eye； throat； and brain； and left him once more the
daring and skillful navigator they knew； wiped out of their shallow
minds the vicious habit that had sunk him below their level。
It had now become perceptible to even the inexperienced eyes of the
passengers that the Excelsior was obeying some new and profound
impulse。 The vague drifting had ceased； and in its place had come
a mysterious but regular movement； in which the surrounding mist
seemed to participate； until fog and vessel moved together towards
some unseen but well…defined bourne。 In vain had the boats of the
Excelsior； manned by her crew； endeavored with a towing…line to
check or direct the inexplicable movement； in vain had Captain
Bunker struggled； with all the skilled weapons of seamanship；
against his invincible foe； wrapped in the impenetrable fog； the
ship moved ghost…like to what seemed to be her doom。
The anxiety of the officers had not as yet communicated itself to
the passengers； those who had been most nervous in the ordinary
onset of wind and wave looked upon the fog as a phenomenon whose
only disturbance might be delay。 To Miss Keene this conveyed no
annoyance； rather that placid envelopment of cloud soothed her
fancy； she submitted herself to its soft embraces； and to the
mysterious onward movement of the ship； as if it were part of a
youthful dream。 Once she thought of the ship of Sindbad； and that
fatal loadstone mountain； with an awe that was； however； half a
pleasure。
〃You are not frightened； Miss Keene？〃 said a voice near her。
She started slightly。 It was the voice of Mr。 Hurlstone。 So thick
was the fog that his face and figure appeared to come dimly out of
it； like a part of her dreaming fancy。 Without replying to his
question； she said quickly；
〃You are better then； Mr。 Hurlstone？ Wewe were all so frightened
for you。〃
An angry shadow crossed his thin face； and he hesitated。 After a
pause he recovered himself； and said；
〃I was saying you were taking all this very quietly。 I don't think
there's much danger myself。 And if we should go ashore here〃
〃Well？〃 suggested Miss Keene； ignoring this first intimation of
danger in her surprise at the man's manner。
〃Well； we should all be separated only a few days earlier； that's
all！〃
More frightened at the strange bitterness of his voice than by the
sense of physical peril； she was vaguely moving away towards the
dimly outlined figures of her companions when she was arrested by a
voice forward。 There was a slight murmur among the passengers。
〃What did he say？〃 asked Miss Keene； 〃What are 'Breakers ahead'？〃
Hurlstone did not reply。
〃Where away？〃 asked a second voice。
The murmur still continuing； Captain Bunker's hoarse voice pierced
the gloom；〃Silence fore and aft！〃
The first voice repeated faintly；
〃On the larboard bow。〃
There was another silence。 Again the voice repeated； as if
mechanically；
〃Breakers！〃
〃Where away？〃
〃On the starboard beam。〃
〃We are in some passage or channel；〃 said Hurlstone quietly。
The young girl glanced round her and saw for the first time that；
in one of those inexplicable movements she had not understood； the
other passengers had been withdrawn into a limited space of the
deck； as if through some authoritative orders； while she and her
companion had been evidently overlooked。 A couple of sailors； who
had suddenly taken their positions by the quarter…boats； strengthened
the accidental separation。
〃Is there some one taking care of you？〃 he asked； half hesitatingly；
〃Mr。 BracePerkinsor〃
〃No；〃 she replied quickly。 〃Why？〃
〃Well； we are very near the boat in an emergency； and you might
allow me to stay here and see you safe in it。〃
〃But the other ladies？ Mrs。 Markham； and〃
〃They'll take their turn after YOU；〃 he said grimly； picking up a
wrap from the railing and throwing it over her shoulders。
〃ButI don't understand！〃 she stammered； more embarrassed by the
situation than by any impending peril。
〃There is very little danger； I think；〃 he added impatiently。
〃There is scarcely any sea； the ship has very little way on； and
these breakers are not over rocks。 Listen。〃
She tried to listen。 At first she heard nothing but the occasional
low voice of command near the wheel。 Then she became conscious of
a gentle； soothing murmur through the fog to the right。 She had
heard such a murmuring accompaniment to her girlish dreams at
Newport on a still summer night。 There was nothing to frighten
her； but it increased her embarrassment。
〃And you？〃 she said awkwardly； raising her soft eyes。
〃Oh； if you are all going off in the boats； by Jove； I think I'll
stick to the ship！〃 he returned； with a frankness that would have
been rude but for its utter abstraction。
Miss Keene was silent。 The ship moved gently onward。 The
monotonous cry of the leadsman in the chains was the only sound
audible。 The soundings were indicating shoaler water； although the
murmuring of the surf had been left far astern。 The almost
imperceptible darkening of the mist on either beam seemed to show
that the Excelsior was entering some land…locked passage。 The
movement of the vessel slackened； the tide was beginning to ebb。
Suddenly a wave of far…off clamor； faint but sonorous； broke across
the ship。 There was an interval of breathless silence； and then it
broke again； and more distinctly。 It was the sound of bells！
The thrill of awe which passed through passengers and crew at this
spiritual challenge from the vast and intangible void around them
had scarcely