"Now! Brace up, Katrine!" cried the strong voice, "brace up! It don't matter much what happens to you and to me, my dear. We are just women-- unattached women at that--there are too many of our sort knocking around, but here's some one here who _does_ count--a little man for you to cuddle and protect! Heaven knows the kind he'll grow up; he'll be none the worse, any way, for remembering this night, and who knows! some woman may fare the better for your pains. Here, sonny! stop that row. Come to the pretty lady. She'll nurse you, and tell you tales." A sturdy weight was deposited on Katrine's lap; in the dim light she recognised the features of her former enemy, the redoubtable Jackey, all drawn and wet with tears. Separated from his father, overcome by the hopeless terror of childhood, he had lost his braggart airs, and appeared just a pitiful baby thing, longing to be kissed and held. His wet face nozzled into Katrine's breast, his little legs in the ridiculous knickerbockers dangled limply over her knees, and the sight, the touch, awoke her to life. She gathered the child in her arms and crooned over him, and Jackey wreathed her neck with his arms, and pressed wet kisses on her cheek! Presently, gathering confidence, he began to question after the manner of childhood. "How soon shall we be drowned? How much does it hurt to be drowned? As much as a tooth? Will the water be cold? Would it be brave to scream? Will you hold me tight, so that I can't leave go? Must we say our prayers before we're drowned?" "We are not going to be drowned, I hope, Jackey. By-and-bye a big boat will come along and take us up, but you can say your prayers all the same. Pray for your father on our own big ship, and, and--" "And the parrot, and the goat, and all Thy dumb creatures," responded Jackey, who was evidently not without religious instruction. He mumbled petitions into Katrine's neck. "God bless and keep my dear father, 'serve him from danger, make him a good boy. Bless the parrot. Keep Thy young goat. Let him be meek and gentle in spirit. Bless the man I kicked, and mend his legs so he can swim when the boat goes down!" "Oh, Jackey," sobbed Katrine wildly. "Oh, Jackey!" She strained the little form in her arms, and buried her face in his curls. So far children had not entered intimately into her life, and the maternal instinct had remained dormant, as it does with many women until the time arrives when their own child is laid in their arms, but now as Jackey's soft, heavy little body nestled against her own, she realised with a new poignancy the possibility of yet another joy, another opening of the gates of life! She rocked to and fro, murmuring soothing words, and Jackey cuddled close, vigorously sucked his thumb, then uncorked his lips to ask another question: "Will the big ship come quick?" "I hope so, Jackey! I think so." "Will our own ship go down? If it goes down to the bottom of the sea, will my Daddy be dead?"