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"Can't keep my pipe lit!" he called to me, as I stood beside hier, seeether free of apprehension beyond that regarding his pipe

At the first breaking of the storm I had, of course, ordered all ports

closed, and had sent bothcompanions to the ladies' cabin

aft, as the driest part of the boat Even there, the water that

soreat waves broke, poured aft and

even broke about the cabin, drenching everything above deck It was

man's work that was to be done now, yet none could bear a hand in it

save the engineer and the steersman I was, therefore, ready sternly

to reprove Jean Lafitte when, presently, I saw hi to the rail and wet to the skin before he

could reach the forward deck But he protested so earnestly and seemed

withal so fit and keen, that I relented and allowed hi him as well as I could, on the

chart, the course ere trying to hold--the overnh to deeper and more sheltered waters beyond

"S'posin' we don't hit her, in this fog!" asked Jean Lafitte

"It is our business to do that," was my reply "In an hour or so more