“See, sure enough, there is a school of porpoises!”

* * * * *

The ship was in mid-ocean.  The rough weather had wholly ceased.  The sea lay glinting like a vast jewel under the slant of the afternoon sun.  It was a day of unflecked beauty.  The decks were gay with people, some walking, some leaning idly on the rail, some sitting with books in their hands.  A few were reading, but most sat with finger in closed book.  Why bother to read about life when it could be seen so full and interesting all around.

A day on ship-board is longer than one on shore, and provision must be made to pass it pleasantly.  If the weather is fair, this is quite a problem.  Of course, there are the meals in the well-appointed dining saloon.  They break pleasantly into the long monotony.  Then there are the deck games; the watching for “whales” and passing vessels; the looking at the spinning log in the foaming water at the stern; the marking of the chart, which indicates the distance traversed during the twenty-four hours; the visit to the steerage and the “stoke hole,” or boiler room in the depths of the ship; and last, but not least, the getting acquainted with one’s fellow passengers.  “Steamer friendships” are easily made, and in most cases, soon forgotten.  The little world of people speeding across the deep from shore to shore, is bound together closely for a few days, and then, its inhabitants scatter.

Chester Lawrence was enjoying every hour of the voyage.  On that day practically all sea-sickness had gone.  The vacant places at the tables were being filled and the company looked around at each other with pleasant contentment.  The steamship company no longer saved on the provisions.  The chatty old gentleman at Chester’s right was back again after a short absence, and the power of speech had come to the demure lady on his left, with the return of her appetite.

Two places opposite Chester were still vacant at the table.  That day as the crowd hastily answered the dinner gong, Chester, being a little tardy, encountered an elderly man and what appeared to be his daughter making their way slowly down the companionway towards the dining room.  Chester saw at a glance that neither of them was strong, but both tried to appear able and were bound to help each other.  He smiled at their well-meaning endeavors, then without asking leave, took the man’s free arm and helped him down the steps, saying,

“You haven’t quite got your sea-legs yet—­Now then, steady, and we’ll soon be there.  Get a good dinner, and that will help.”

The steward showed them to the two seats opposite Chester which had been vacant so long.

“Thank you very much,” said the girl to Chester, with a smile, when the elderly man was well seated.  Chester bowed without replying, then went around the table to his own seat.