But its ghastly significance was instantly borne in upon her by the plight in which she stood.

Her lips quivered; the tears trembled in her eyes.
"Is it really true that all the ship's company except ourselves are lost ?" she brokenly demanded.
The sailor's gravely earnest glance fell before hers.

"Unhappily there is no room for doubt," he said.
"Are you quite, quite sure ?" "I am sure--of some." Involuntarily he turned seawards.
She understood him.

She sank to her knees, covered her face with her hands, and broke into a passion of weeping.

With a look of infinite pity he stooped and would have touched her shoulder, but he suddenly restrained the impulse.