“Then, my sweetheart mustn’t think of it.  We are going to be together, we two.  ’Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge ... where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried!’ quoted the young man, knowing not the prophetic import of his words.  She leaned on his shoulder, and he stroked the hair from her forehead.

“Did you have a talk with Captain Brown?” she asked.  “Did you answer his questions?”

Chester started, then understood.  “Oh, yes,” he replied.  “Yesterday on the bridge we talked for an hour.  He asked me all manner of questions, and I think I satisfied him.  He had heard of Mormonism,’ of course, but never of its message of salvation.  I believe he’s converted already.”

“I’m so glad, for he is such a nice man.  Chester, I wish your father were more susceptible to the gospel.  I can’t understand him.  He never opposes, nor does he now find fault with me; but as for himself—­well, he says he’s going back to the pulpit.”

“I am just as sorry as you, on that score; but we can but do our best, and let the Lord take care of the rest.”

Now when their thoughts ranged from self to others, Lucy felt so much better that she declared she was ready for the deck.  So leaning on Chester’s arm, they carefully climbed the stairs, and came to the open.  There was a breeze, and a bank of clouds hung low to windward.  Chester adjusted Lucy’s wrap closely as they paced the deck slowly.  The clouds lifted into the sky, shutting out the sun.  On the horizon, winkings of lightning flashed.  Evidently, a storm was coming.

Captain Brown was quiet at the luncheon table.  Chester noted it, and afterwards, followed the captain to the bridge.

“How goes it?” asked Chester.

“Not well,” was the reply.  “Do you see that list to larboard.”

“I don’t understand.”

Without pointing, which action others might see, the captain explained that the ship tilted to one side, also that there was a slight “settling by the head,” that is, the ship was deeper in the water forward than at any other part.  Chester noticed it now, and asked what it meant.

“It means,” explained the captain, “that we are slowly settling—­sinking, in plain words.  The pumps can not manage the water coming into the hold.  There is also some trouble with the cargo, which causes the list or leaning to one side.  From now on, I shall be on the lookout for assistance, which I think, will come in ample time—­Now tell me more about this new prophet, Joseph Smith.”

For an hour they conversed.  Then the captain had to go below again, and Chester went in search of Lucy.  A number of the passengers were standing near the larboard rail.  They noticed the slope of the deck, but did not realize its meaning, and Chester did not enlighten them.  A peculiar heart-sinking feeling persisted with him, which the coming storm did not alleviate.