“I know, Father; but we’ve been in danger for several days, and I’ve got used to it.”

“Ay, that’s true, and you’ve been an uncommon plucky girl, I will say.  She ain’t like them females that faint and go into high strikes and fidget your life out,” he said to Smith, who observed the girl’s face flush.  “Now, my dear, you’ll go with Mr. Smith, and please your old father.  There ain’t a morsel of danger; he’s come safe all the way from London, and I never see a better bit of manoeuvring, I will say, than when he brought the what-you-may-call-it down on the deck as light as a feather.  It’ll be a big sight safer than this poor old hulk, and I’ll be thankful to know as you’re safe in Penang.  You can berth with my old friend Sam Upton and his missis, and please God I’ll come for you in a day or two.”

“I assure you, Miss—­Miss Margaret,” said Smith, “that there’s really very little risk.  We’ve come six thousand odd miles safely, and it’s not far to Penang, you know.  You won’t be the first lady to fly in an aeroplane.”

“Ma foi, non!” cried Rodier, unable to keep silence any longer.  “I myself, mademoiselle, have kept company in an aeroplane with a lady.  Ah, bah! vous parlez francais; eh bien! cette femme-la a ete ravie, enchantee; elle m’a assure que ce moment-la fut le plus heureux de sa vie.”

“Shut up, Roddy,” whispered Smith, smiling, however, as he caught a twinkle of amusement in the girl’s eyes.

“I will go if you wish,” she said to the captain, without replying to Rodier.

“That’s right.  Mr. McWhirter, will you please get a couple of cushions and put them in the thingummy where Mr. Smith shows you.”

The seat was quickly prepared.  Meanwhile Smith consulted with Rodier on the somewhat delicate problem how to make a start from the deck, which obviously did not afford more than a few feet of running-off space.  Rodier hit on a solution, and by the time the passenger’s seat was ready the necessary arrangements had been made.

“Now, my gal,” said the captain, “step aboard.  You sing like a bird; it’s only right you should fly like one.”  It was obvious that the worthy seaman was making clumsy efforts to be cheerful.  “I’ll see you in two days, or three at most; we’ve got a raft ready, you know, in case the fire beats us.  But, bless you, I shouldn’t be surprised if we have a fire-engine coming through the sky next; there’s no knowing what these clever young sparks won’t be inventing.  God bless you!”

The girl threw her arms round her father’s neck.  Smith turned away; there were tears in the old man’s eyes.  The captain conducted her to her place.  Then he took Smith aside.

“You’ll look after my gal, sir?” he said in an undertone.  “She’s all I’ve got.  Suppose you do come down; what then?”

“I shall jettison the engine and keep afloat by the planes.  We’ve a couple of life buoys, too.  But I don’t think we shall come down, so make yourself easy, and we’ll save your vessel.”