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"Yes, Captain, I think you'd better," said Mr. Harding.

Very good, sir," replied the officer, turning to give the necessary commands.

The officers and men of the Halfmoon swarmed up the sides of the Lotus, dark-

visaged, fierce, and forbidding.

Reminds me of a boarding party of pirates," remarked Billy Mallory, as he

watched Blanco, the last to throw a leg over the rail, reach the deck.

They're not very pretty, are they?" murmured Barbara Harding, instinctively

shrinking closer to her companion.

"'Pretty' scarcely describes them, Barbara," said Billy; "and do you know that

somehow I am having difficulty in imagining them on their knees giving up

thanks to the Lord for their rescue--that was your recent idea of 'em, you will

recall."

"If you have purposely set yourself the task of being more than ordinarily

disagreeable today, Billy," said Barbara sweetly, "I'm sure it will please you to

know that you are succeeding."

"I'm glad I'm successful at something then," laughed the man. "I've certainly been

unsuccessful enough in another matter."

What, for example?" asked Barbara, innocently.

Why in trying to make myself so agreeable heretofore that you'd finally consent

to say 'yes' for a change."

Now you are going to make it all the worse by being stupid," cried the girl

petulantly. "Why can't you be nice, as you used to be before you got this silly

notion into your head?"

"I don't think it's a silly notion to be head over heels in love with the sweetest girl

on earth," cried Billy.

"Hush! Someone will hear you."

"I don't care if they do. I'd like to advertise it to the whole world. I'm proud of the

fact that I love you; and you don't care enough about it to realize how really hard

I'm hit--why I'd die for you, Barbara, and welcome the chance; why--My God!

What's that?"

O Billy! What are those men doing?" cried the girl. "They're shooting. They're

shooting at papa! Quick, Billy! Do something. For heaven's sake do something."

The Mucker