A sailor who had come for some purpose to the part of the deck where they were, suddenly called their attention to a curl of smoke far off on the horizon; it was something homeward bound, he said--he could not tell what, but they would most likely pass near each other.
The two young men had been thinking of going down, but the idea of meeting a ship of any kind was sufficient excitement to keep them on deck.

They continued their walk, stopping every now and then to watch the smoke as it grew more and more distinct.

Presently the steamer itself became visible, and other persons began to assemble and guess what steamer it could be and how long it would be before they passed each other.

Meanwhile the stranger came nearer and nearer; at last it could be recognized--the 'Atalanta,' from New York to Havre.

Maurice borrowed a glass from one of the officers, and, going a little apart from the group on the deck of the 'India,' set himself to examine that of the 'Atalanta.' A sudden feeling of dismay had seized upon him.