It seemed quieter up on deck now, for the sailors had ceased rushing about adjusting the canvas, though there was still plenty of noise. There was the rattle and bang of blocks, the whipping about of ends of ropes, the slap, now and then, of the storm jib, as it was whipped back and forth. Now and then a heavy sea would fall on deck with a crash. At such times the _Mary Ellen_, stout as she was, would tremble from stem to stern, and those in the cabin would shiver and look at one another apprehensively. "Come on, Laura," called Miss Pennington to her companion. "Let's take all the precautions we can. We'll put on life preservers. But oh, I daren't think of being in the water with all those sharks." "Don't talk that way!" said Paul in a sharp whisper, as he saw Ruth shrink back at the word "shark." Miss Pennington did not deign to answer, but she and her friend were soon struggling with the straps of a life preserver. At this moment Captain Brisco came down into the cabin. "What does this mean?" he asked, and his voice was stern. "We--we are getting ready for an--an emergency," faltered Miss Pennington. "Well, there won't be any emergency--at least not for a while," the commander said grimly "We are doing very well. If you want to be uncomfortable do so, and put on those cork jackets. But there is no need of it. I'll give you plenty of warning if the ship is likely to founder, and we'll lower the boats." "Is there any real danger, Captain?" asked Mr. DeVere. "Well, of course there always is, in a storm at sea. But we are in no more danger than hundreds of others. This is a wooden ship, and it will be a long time sinking, even if it gets to that point, which is far off. We haven't leaked a drop yet, and we're running before the storm nicely. You need have no fears." "That's what I thought!" exclaimed Alice, with a look at the two former stage actresses. "Humph!" sniffed Miss Dixon. "Any one would think you were a sailor." "She's a good deal better 'n some," said Jack Jepson coming into the cabin then to report something to Captain Brisco. "Then you would not advise us to put on life preservers?" asked Mr. DeVere. "Not now, at least," the captain replied. "I have done everything possible, and the only thing now is to run before the storm. We are in good shape. The _Mary Ellen_ is a better craft than I gave her credit for being. The only thing to do is to wait, and hope for the best." "Have you plenty of lifeboats?" the old actor wanted to know. "Yes, enough for all hands. They are provisioned and watered, and are staunch craft. My men have orders to stand by in case of any real danger, and put the small boats over. But we will stick to the ship until the last, though that is not saying, mind you, that we will have to desert her." "Oh! I couldn't think of going in one of those small boats!" cried Miss Dixon. "They are so low in the water. I should faint every time I looked over the side."