For the Sake of the Family

Chapter I

' Miss Smith ! Miss Smith ! ' The girl addressed did not seem to hear although she was standing at no great distance at the side of the ship. She was laden with parasols, and a neatly strung bundle of novels, a pile of papers, a despatch box, and a large bouquet. And she was gazing with all her eyes at Plymouth's fair harbour as it receded from view, and Mount Edgcumbe's glorious green woods dipping into the salt waves, here blue as the bluest of Mediterranean waters. ' Miss Smith ! ' was reiterated for the third time in angry tones, and the speaker bustled forward. She was a thin little lady, of elegant, but faded appearance, and with A too large a head and long a face for the rest of her body. ' Will you be good enough to go and arrange my cabin before I come down there.' ' Oh, I really beg your pardon, Aunt Honoria.

I ■ ' ' Hu— sh— sh ! ' The sibilant whisper was accompanied by an utterly freezing glance. At this the girl blushed, as if slapped on both cheeks, and meekly disappeared down the companion ladder. Another passenger had been watching this little scene with a slightly amused interest ; his admiration had been excited by the now vanished Miss Smith for the last quarter of an hour. And although he could not overhear, he marked the brief interview narrated. ' A fine girl. How strong and tall she is. Just the sort of girl who has been brought up with brothers, I should say, and can ride and row and play tennis probably, as well as any of them.' So thinking our passenger sauntered up to the irate little lady who still held her head victoriously high. ' I hope you are a good sailor, Lady Wayland,' he began pleasantly. ' For our captain says we shall have a bit of a breeze soon.' A dismayed expression changed Lady Wa}-land's features with amusing rapidity. 'Oh, Mr Ingham, you don't say so!

I declare, I almost wish my husband had never accepted this South African Governor ship. First of all, I am one of the most wretched sailors alive, and when we do get out there, there will be very few ladies for me to speak to, I believe.' ' You are taking out a young lady, I see ; may I ask who she is ? ' ' What, Miss Smith ! ' in a tone of sur prised asperity. She is only my companion.' ' Indeed.' ' Poor Miss Smith,' thought Randall Ingham, but instead of saying so, he praised Sir Horace's colonial policy. Presently the gentleman in question came fussing up ; a good-natured little person of some pomposity, which last could be reduced to nothingness by a word or a look from his wife, acting like a pin-prick on a child's silken bladder. ' How are you feeling ; how are you feeling, my dear ? ' he began, ' and where is Rachel, eh ?

Where is Rachel, I say ? ' ' Miss Smith has gone below — and I am going.' That was all ; but Lady Wayland's air of rebuke was quite sufficient. A greenish pallor was over-spreading her features, as the good ship plunged and curtseyed in meeting with, and greeting to the waves. But her ladyship held her head high until the top of her bonnet disappeared, and her spouse meekly trotted after her, looking subdued. * Now, I wonder,' thought Ingham to himself, ' why the little governor should call Miss Smith — his wife's companion — Rachel?' Randall Ingham was a man slightly below middle height, but he had sufficient breadth and strength of appearance, besides a good carriage, to prevent him from being thought short ; and his features were pleasant enough with kindly smiles often playing about his mouth, although there was almost a pathetic expression at times in his blue eyes which seldom twinkled, that seemed to suggest either past or dormant suffering.

His hair was the only remarkable feature of his person. It was grey, indeed silver white in patches, forming a singular contrast to his fresh com plexion andbrown moustache, which belonged rightly to a man of his age, that is to say, past the ten-milestone of thirty and within sight of that of forty. This phenomenon was due to the one misfortune that had caused all the later trials in his life. Just before leaving public school as a fine lad of seven teen, abreast of the best in his studies, captain of the cricket eleven, and a favourite with masters and boys, the blow fell. He was knocked down in a football scrimmage and received a kick on the head which brought on brain fever. Through weary weeks he lay in darkness, with ice on his head, while his widowed mother nursed her darling, the pride of her heart, without almost a ray of hope.

The doctors were unanimous that if the boy lived, which was doubtful, he would be an idiot. They were wrong. Mother's love so far triumphed over sickness and death that Randall slowly re covered ; though for two years he was forced to remain a useless burden upon his mother's slender resources ; and idle, as a better alternative than being ill. All studies henceforth were ended for him ; even the slightest mental agitation was a danger. His early grey hair was the outward and visible sign of the mental aud bodily sufferings he had endured in those days. The end of it was that Ingham went out to Ceylon, where he invested his little patri mony in a coffee plantation. Bad seasons followed, and when, at the end of eight years, an uncle died and left him a small but sufficient fortune, on which he could live comfortably with economy, he returned gladly to old England, having earned nothing abroad except the liking of his few and distant neighbours.

Since then Ingham's ex istence had been as retired and tranquil as that of a spinster without a purpose in life. The climate of Ceylon had sapped his strength considerably, so that he was unfitted for hunting, shooting, politics, or society's late hours and stifling rooms. He travelled a good deal, often to health resorts ; fished, took up photography. It was rather a trial than otherwise to frequent his club and feel debarred from the pursuits and avocations of other men ; he did not look an invalid, so his acquaintances dubbed him a queer fellow and a bit of a hermit. He guessed this, and being painfully sensi tive, writhed to feel himself a drone and be classed as a malade imaginaire. None guessed his sufferings from intense lassitude, and recurring fits of fever ; none knew except the recipients of his bounty, how largely he gave from his slender income to those worse off than himself; feeling that only in this way had he a right to cumber the earth.

His mother was dead, his relations few, and it was difficult to him not to be melancholy, holding as he did, the intense conviction that in the human hive none ought to be idle, save the old, whose life's work was done ; or the hopelessly invalided, who needed, therefore, more compassion than the sorrowful. Just now he was taking a sea voyage, partly for health's sake, round the Cape to Ceylon, where also some im portant business required his presence, con cerning the coffee plantation which he had left in the charge of his partner.

Chapter II

For two or three days it blew * half a gale,' as sailors say. In the opinion of Lady Wayland and most of the passengers, how ever, it was a dreadful storm, and all the ladies and most of the men lay groaning in their berths. All the ladies, with one ex ception, and that was Rachel. She was never ill, and this ought to have made her a pearl of companions in Lady Wayland's eyes, one would think ; but the dame only queru lously closed those organs of vision on Rachel's smiling appearance beside her couch of sea-sickness, and would snap from between her half-closed teeth : ' Oh, do go away ! it only makes me worse to know that you must be made without any inside ; really, you could apply for the berth of a stewardess, if all else fails.' Upon which poor Rachel would retire abashed into the saloon, and sit by herself trying to read, as her sofa swayed to the ship's motion.

But not for long. Mr Ing ham was sure to espy her from some other corner where he sat, likewise alone. Had any spiteful lady passenger been present they might have said he was watching for her ; but only some tough old sea-dogs, as they liked to call themselves, of passengers had found their sea-legs those days, and, bless their hearts ! they smiled kindly on the pair in question, when by chance they noticed these recurring dialogues. ' Will you not come up on deck ? I will take care of you,' Ingham would generally say. ' It is more healthy for you than staying down here, I am sure ; and we shall have enough of the saloon in the evening, shan't we ? ' ' O, I don't dislike this dear old saloon either ; but I do love best to be up on deck, of course,' replied Rachel joyously, yet shyly. She certainly had enjoyed the last two or three evenings keenly, down here in a com fortable corner with Mr Ingham by turns talking to her or playing games, over which they both laughed as happily as a pair of children ; but to be up on deck in the fresh FOR THE SAKE OF TEE FAMILY 10 air with him beside her was still more exhil arating. ' How I love the voyage ! ' she would repeat to him. ' Yes, I hope it will always be like this, I should not mind if it lasted for six months.' ' It may be different when Lady Wayland gets better,' Ingham would smilingly reply : and then be sorry he had so jested, when he saw a slightly apprehensive expression follow his words upon Rachel's generally blithe young face.

Once up on deck they stayed side by side for an hour or two at a time, engrossed in conversation. Sir Horace never interfered. Now and again he would trot past them, for he was one of the ' sea dogs ' — and nod with condescending affability to Rachel. ' Ah, in very good care, I see. Honoria asked me what you were doing, so I can say you are enjoying yourself, my de — ahem ! ' and the colonial governor cleared his throat loudly. 'Miss Wayland,' said another of the pas senger sea-salts, coming up with a spy-glass under his arm, and thinking to attract the notice of the prettiest girl on board for a minute or two, whom he imagined to be Sir Horace's daughter, ' there is a sail in sight over yonder. Would you like to take a look at it ? ' Rachel turned instantly with a pleased smile, and inspected the object while chatting with the old fellow pleasantly.

When the latter was gone, Randall Ing ham approached her again with an amused look. ' I begin to believe that you do not know your own name. I have remarked several times that you hardly seem to notice when you are called " Miss Smith," but that you bound at the name of Wayland.' ' Pride, pride ; all pride ! ' laughed Rachel, staring seawards. ' You may think that pride and Lady Wayland's companion have no right to be associated, still, "Poor and proud " is a proverbial phrase, is not it ? ' ' Heaven forbid that I should apply it to you ! ' returned Ingham, very gently under his breath. ' Why, you are rich in all that makes life worth having ; in youth, health, and strength, and I will make bold to guess in friends who really love you.' ' Ah yes, I am a lucky girl in that last good fortune,' agreed Rachel, her voice softening too, while a half-regretful smile lit up her bonny face. ' They did make so much of me just before I sailed, when I was staying down at St Ermins.' 'What! do you know St Ermins ?

I used to go there as a boy, but I have not seen it for a long time. Do you belong to that neighbourhood ? ' asked Ingham, roused to unusual curiosity, although he was always deeply interested in his companion. ' I was staying there last,' returned Rachel evasively, ' before that, I was at Boulogne teaching in a school.' ' You teaching ! ' Somehow the idea of associating Rachel with desk drudgery, with smeared copy books and piano scales, seemed almost absurd to Ingham. ' Yes, I am a dunce ; you have found that out already,' she returned quickly. ' No, no ; do not say anything. I only like the truth, not compliments.' In his heart Ingham thought her the dearest girl alive, but she had not struck him as deep thinking, or even particularly intellectual. ' You see, it is like this,' hurried on Rachel, ' we are a large family, I won't say "worse luck" as we all love each other dearly ; but there are too many of us.

Most of the others are little, so of course I have had to do my best, bad though it was. Lady Wayland knew this and it is most kind of her to take me out as a companion. Now you know all my history ! ' Not quite all, Rachel ! In after days both you and Randall Ingham will regret the few unspoken words of confidence which might have changed much of the currents of your two lives. But the oirl thought she had said enough ; and, after all, what did the rest matter to him. Randall Ingham, too, believed he quite understood. On the fourth day the so-called ' half-gale' had increased to a whole one. It was very stormy ; but Rachel, though she felt dizzy and a little frightened, had ventured herself up on deck, as usual ; clina-ino* fast hold of Inghani's arm with one hand, and of an equally friendly but less impressionable brass rail with the other. ' Hold fast ! ' cried Ingham, as a large wave broke over the ship's side, half-blind ing both of them in a shower of spray. ' This is really dangerous ; I ought never to have brought you up here to-day ; but you over-persuaded me.' ' Do not repent of a kind action,' laughed Rachel, gleefully. ' It was so dismal down in the saloon with only my — with only Sir Horace and the other old gentlemen holding themselves into their chairs and lecturing on politics ; besides, it is a rare opportunity for me of feeling superior to the rest of the passengers.

Fancy what they miss, poor souls ! groaning in their berths, while I am enjoying this grand sight ; you would not grudge me such a pleasure ? O, do look ! look at it all ! ' She was looking herself, with all her eyes, at the green liquid mountains of _waves that reared themselves and broke tumultuously on all sides. 'Grudge you a pleasure — a single pleasure ! Certainly not ! ' said Ingham emphatically under his breath. He just caught in time some other words on his tongue that were impulsively rushing to the threshold of speech. With a little start at his own daring of thought he looked askance at Rachel, who was still drinking in the glorious tumult of the elements with all her eyes. 'Now, we go up, up, up!' she cried laughing, as the good ship rose on the crest of a great wave, ' And, now we go down, down, down ! ' as it slid into a watery valley.

What a picture of rich young health and beauty the girl was ! Under her little blue sailor cap her dark brown hair was blown by the winds in fluffy stray locks and rebellious curls ; one longer strand escaped wholly from bondage and was swept now and then lightly against his cheek. Rachel did not know it and Ingham did not speak. There was a light in her large grey eyes, while sweet red roses were blooming on her cheeks, it did his heart good to see. Her long cloak was wrapt closely about her tall figure by the gale, outlining its really noble propor tions. ' What a glorious creature she is ! ' Ingham was feeling, rather than thinking. He could not coolly criticise her to himself, he could only wholly, passionately admire. The truth was, that Randall Ingham was head over ears in love. His quiet life of late, his long exile abroad before, had pre vented him from knowing more than a few women intimately ; there had been some calf-loves long ago to which he had looked back sentimentally, supposing that never more should he feel that old enthusiasm.

But now — love had come upon him with a rush, almost blinding, overwhelming. ' Hold hard, hold hard ! ' he kept dully repeating to his intimate companion, Self, ' how this girl would laugh at you if she only knew your folly. She may be only a companion, but she is magnificent, and youth will to youth. She would laugh at the notion of a poor, invalided, grey-haired veteran like yourself even thinking of her.' But even at the thought his blood raced o in his veins, throbbed in his ears, and a dull red flush crept into his face. Meanwhile Rachel was unconsciously gaily humming the words, 'In the Bay of Biscay, 0,' Without a moment's warning came a great crash ; it seemed under their very feet. The ship quivered from stem to stern as from a violent blow. In another second there was a hurrying rush of officers and crew along the deck, followed by a second up-rush of frightened passengers.

A clamour and babel of calls and cries, hoarse orders and replies, of shrieking questions and bewildered answers, filled the air. ' Please, what is it ? ' whispered Rachel, clinging tighter to Ingham's arm, and though frightened, speaking very quietly. ' There is an accident ! Heaven knows what ! ' ' Is there danger ? ' B

Chapter III

Above all the clamour of the terrified passengers on board the Oceana, the captain's voice sounded a loud and cheery note of reassurance. ' Our shaft is broken, ladies and gentle men ; but as to danger — Pooh ! set your minds all at ease. Why ! you are as safe as if in your own beds at home. It is bad luck, I own, for any of us who are in a hurry to get to the Cape ; but just think how far worse it might have been. We may all be very thankful that this has happened on board one of the finest screw steamers afloat, constructed on such magnificent new prin ciples that she can almost defy the elements to sink her.' Then surrounded by an eager group pressing round to hear his words of encouragement, the captain went on to explain, while Lady Wayland, who had caught hold of his sleeve by an out-stretched finger and thumb, was hanging upon every word that came from his clean-shaven lips. 4 You see, my dear ladies — you understand, gentlemen ! — that this ship is not only divided into water-tight compartments, but also has a longitudinal bulk-head which practically divides her in two throughout her length.

Now this is almost as near perfection as can be ! For — ' IVJi-ish-sh-sh ! ! ! Even as he spoke a great cloud of steam suddenly burst up from underneath, envelop ing them all ; it was accompanied by a grinding noise and violent blows. Fresh shrieks arose from the affrighted women, while those terrible thuds continued. Even all the men looked scared ; not that they could av ell see each other's faces, for a moment or two. As the cloud of steam dispered the chief engineer rushed into the group with a pale face, and drew the captain aside, who was obliged to extricate himself with diffi culty from Lady Wayland's tenacious grip by pushing her into the arms of Sir Horace with kindly force. A fresh accident had occurred which the chief engineer was now reporting to the captain. The cause of it was as follows.

The Oceana had twin screws, as has been said. When the shaft broke, the port engine connected to it having practically no work to do, revolved for a brief space of time with frightful velocity, breaking the piston rod and causing the gearing to be hurled in all directions, perforating the bulk head which separated it from its fellow, and tearing a large hole in the bottom of the ship. Thus in one little instant were shattered plans which had caused long months of toil and calculation ! Gone were the proud beliefs, even certainties of the highest authorities in naval architecture and engineering that the Oceana was a perfect success, that she would sail the seas a sign and signal of man's skill to combat the elements of water and wind. It was not till nearly an hour later that Randall Ingham, who was conspicuous among the passengers for his calm and pluck, had the chance of a few minutes' private talk with the captain, when quiet was somewhat restored.

Ingham had done good service in soothing the fears of many of his fellow passengers, and in assuring and demonstrating to them that whatever might happen to the machinery, although the ship might float like a log, there was no real reason for alarm. He even mirabile dictu ! had the coolness to go to where Lady Way land sobbed hysterically apart with a request as from the captain, that she, being the lady in the highest position of those on board, should set the example of courage and firmness to the others. And my lady actually wiped her eyes, and with some sounds like suppressed snorts desired Rachel hereupon. ' There now, don't bother me any more. You hear what Mr Ingham says. Go down to my cabin and make yourself useful ; you can pack up all my jewellery and bring it to me here. I shall not stir from the deck where I can see whatever happens.' Even though guessing at the danger that surrounded them Rachel could not suppress a smile as she stood behind her employer, who had so lately been sobbing helplessly in the girl's arms.

She went obediently below, but not alone. For Ingham found a pretext to follow her and whisper warm praises of her courage and cool behaviour, that gladdened Rachel's heart almost as much as his cheering prophecies concerning the ship's accident. Now, with an unusually alert manner and quiet smile, Randall was asking of the captain, — ' Do you mind telling me what is really the matter? I have not a notion myself; but I have been assuring everybody that we are as right as a trivet. I fancy you look as if something was wrong* nevertheless.' ' I am afraid you are right, Mr Ingham ; thank you for your kind help with the passengers, all the same.' ' But why ? What is the danger, when the water-tight compartments are holding good, they say, and the doors are shut ? The engine-room, too, which must be full of water to the sea-level, I conclude, is isolated nevertheless from the rest of the ship.' ' Quite true,' whispered the captain, hurriedly. ' But you see the pressure of the water may burst in those bulk heads, now the longitudinal support on which we reckoned is gone, since the port engine played the devil with it.

No need to tell the others that, however. I can trust you I know. Still they may hold out for a bit, and, God helping us, if the breeze freshens no more, I will sail the ship back into Plymouth harbour.' The captain gallantly kept his word ; and as if in encouragement of his seamanship and pluck the fates ordained that the wind did lessen. It had been against the Oceana during their three or four days of the voyage out ; now being in her favour, although their speed was slow, still, after five days they found themselves nearing the English coast, which was, as is so often the case, shrouded from view by a slight fog. ' I wonder shall we get in safely to Ply mouth once more ? ' said Rachel, in an under tone of confidence. Her remark was ad dressed to Ingham, who was as usual by her side, whenever Lady Wayland's querulous ness allowed her young companion a few minutes of freedom from attending continually upon the governor's wife's wants. ' I heard the first lieutenant saying that the wind seemed to be getting up again, and that he only hoped we might not have it worse before long.' ' I should not regret a bit of a storm my self,' whispered Ingham with unconscious tenderness, as he looked in her face, ' if it only had the same result as before of keeping some people in their berths.

Still, even for such a blessed result we ought not to wish for wind ; for the Oceana is hardly as weather-tight as she was.' Rachel looked shyly down. She felt fluttered when her fellow passenger gave her these rare looks which made her feel that her safety, and even present comfort, were more to him than the well-being of all the rest of those on board. ' He is such a real friend, I do believe ; he is so kind and sympa thising,' she said in her heart, ' I have never met any man yet to whom I could speak so easily and tell just all I felt, excepting dear old father.' Whether Randall Ingham would have been flattered at being thus, compared with Rachel's parent is unlikely. But he never knew it, for she only replied aloud, ' Misfortunes generally come in threes. We have had two already ; I am afraid it is time to look out for the third.' Before very long Rachel's homely philo sophy proved correct.

The wind freshened more and more. By night time, as they were near the Cornish coast, it had become a storm. Darkness surrounded them, through which the white tops of the waves could only just be descried. The wind whistled through the rigging as if mocking at the moaning cries that now and again issued from one or other of the women's cabins, as some greater wave than usual struck the vessel's side. But the worst danger to the ill-fated Oceana lay within her own wooden walls ; for the water that filled the engine room oscillating frightfully with the movement of the ship, dashed continually with frightful violence against the bulk heads. Alas ! the latter upon which the hopes of the captain and crew had been pinned, were minute by minute losing their power for protection. The massive steel plates were becoming buckled, and bulged outwards under the strain ; while in some places the ' weeping ' which occurred showed that the ultimate stability of the bulk-heads to resist this fearful internal pressure was momentarily be coming very doubtful.

The captain, his officers and crew were aware of the danger, as hour by hour it grew, and that their chance of safety lessened ; while the ship laboured, attacked from without and within. As night came on the men cabin-passengers were told the true state of affairs, and they all kept their clothes on and stayed up in case of emergency. But as yet none of the women were warned although most of them lay awake in their berths dreading danger, while yet not aware that its chief crisis might come so soon. When an hour had thus passed the chief engineer and the captain held a brief con sultation. ' We must get the women and children up and prepare for the worst,' they agreed. ' There is nothing left for it but to take to the boats.'

Chapter IV

Nearer land, nearer a cliff bound coast, nearer long reefs of jagged rock, the ill fated Oceana laboured heavily through the mirk midnight. In vain the captain and his chief officers consulted anxiously together ; in vain the look-out man strained his eyes watchfully through the pitchy darkness. The ship was rolling* more and more dan gerously. How long will she last ? Will ever morning dawn for them again ? Will — - Then a hoarse shout burst through the darkness, even as ghostly breakers made a vague whiteness ahead in the pitchy black night. Then came a great shock, a grinding sound as if all the planks in the ship's bottom were being sawed asunder; broken up. And a cry rose up from half-a-hundred throats, ' We are on the rocks ! God help us !' Once again the captain's voice of authority quelled the tumult. ' Get the women and children up on deck, we must prepare to leave the ship. . . .

Lower the boats ! ' It is wonderful to see, how, in the awful presence of death, the true characters of poor human beings are revealed. As through the howling storm the passengers of the Oceana hurriedly swarmed up on deck, many of them only half-clothed, a philosopher would have been interested, could he have studied the scene dispassionately and with out personal dread. The women cowered together shivering ; but with a calmness which in some cases seemed apathetic. Meanwhile some little children, unconscious of danger, grasped their toys, a few whim pering, but others laughing with pathetic innocence. As the sailors made an attempt to lower the first boat several of the steerage pas sengers rushed forward, frenzied ; fighting like madmen for the first slender chance of life. The captain and second lieutenant stood by with revolvers, shouting to these men to keep back.