"I think I can tell you that, sir, without betraying any confidences," the purser replied. "Unless a miracle happens, there'll be a burial before we get across. Poor fellow, it seems too bad after such an effort." The captain nodded sympathetically. "After all, I can understand this hankering of a man to die in his own country," he said. "I had a brother once the same way. They brought him home from Australia, dying all the way, as they believed, but directly he set foot in England he seemed to take on a new lease of life--lived for years afterwards." "Is that so?" the purser remarked. "Well, this fellow ought to have a chance. It's a short voyage, and he has his own doctor and nurse to look after him." "Let's hope they'll keep him alive, then. I hate the burial service at sea." The captain turned aside and filled his pipe thoughtfully. "Dix," he continued, "as you know, I am not a superstitious man, but there seems to be something about this trip I can't fathom." "Meaning, sir?" "Well, there's this wireless business, first of all. We shall close it up in about thirty-six hours, you know, and in the meantime I have been expecting half a dozen messages, not one of which has come through." "Young fellow of the highest character, Robins," the purser remarked drily. "That may be," the captain agreed, "and yet I can't get rid of my premonition. I wouldn't mind laying you anything you like, Dix, that we don't sight a submarine, and shouldn't, even if we hadn't our guns trained." "That's one comfort, anyway. Being a family man, sir--" "Yes, I know all about your family, Dix," the captain interrupted irritably, "but just at the present moment I am more interested in what is going on in my ship. I begin to believe that Mr. Crawshay's voyage through the air wasn't altogether a piece of bravado, after all." The purser smiled a little incredulously. "He sent round this evening to know if I could lend him some flannel pyjamas," he said,--"says all the things that have been collected together for him are too thin. That man makes me tired, sir." "He makes me wonder." "How's that, sir?" "Because I can't size him up," the captain declared. "There isn't a soul on board who isn't laughing at him and saying what a sissy he is. They say he has smuggled an extra lifebelt into his cabin, and spends half his time being seasick and the other half looking out for submarines." "That's the sort of fellow he seems to me, anyway," the purser observed. "I can't say that I've quite made up my mind," the captain pronounced. "I suppose you know, Dix, that he was connected with the Secret Service at the English Embassy?" "I didn't know it," Dix replied, "but if he has been, Lord help us! No wonder the Germans have got ahead of us every time!" "I don't think he was much of a success," the other continued, "and as a matter of fact he is on his way back to England now to do his bit of soldiering. All the same, Dix, he gave me a turn the other day."