The quartermaster pulled the bell-handle on the wheel-frame. The hissing steam was heard below; the vessel jarred a little; and then she went ahead. “The course, if you please?” inquired the quartermaster. “Run for the Tritonia; but be sure you don’t run over her,” replied O’Hara. “She is astern of us now.” “For the Tritonia, sir,” repeated Burley, as he threw the wheel over. “We are actually moving!” said O’Hara, as he left the pilot-house, followed by Speers. “I think there is no doubt of that,” replied the chief officer. “Have you any idea where we are going?” “Not the least in the world; but, the nearer the port, the shorter our term of office. I wish we were bound to New York, or some other port on the other side of the ocean; for I should like a long cruise under present circumstances.” “So should I; but I suppose we shall have only a day or two of it at the most.” “We shall soon know where we are going; for I suppose Capt. Wainwright has been studying on that question since he sent us on board of the steamer.” O’Hara then directed that the starboard watch, which had been on duty all night, should be relieved. It was two o’clock in the morning, and they were to be called at four. This was Tom Speers’s watch; but he was not inclined to turn in before the captain had reported to the Tritonia. Raymond was now in charge of the deck, and Tom had nothing to do. He went into the cabin, and to his surprise found that Miss Rodwood was there. Tom touched his cap to her, and remarked that she was up late. There had been so much noise in the hold, that she could not sleep, and she had got up. The officer seated himself on a divan, and he could not keep his eyes off the fair passenger. Miss Rodwood was walking up and down the cabin; and Tom could not help thinking again that she was a very pretty girl. She was very pale, and no doubt her recent experience on shipboard had been a severe trial to her nerves. Tom noticed that there was something very strange about her expression. He could not explain it; but he was confident that she was suffering from some cause. She did not seem to be in bodily pain. The motion of the vessel was tolerably easy compared with what it had been, so that she had no difficulty in walking on the cabin floor. The curtain partition was open on one side of the table, so that the lady extended her walk to the entire length of the apartment. She kept quickening her pace till she was going almost at a run; but she moderated it as she approached the young officer. Tom watched her with increasing interest, as she appeared to grow more excited. He was sure now that something was the matter with her; and he felt that something ought to be done for her. “The weather has been very favorable for our work,” said Tom, desiring to ascertain something more about the lady’s condition through the medium of conversation. “I suppose it has,” she replied, with a nod, and continued her walk.