CHAPTER VI.
THE NEW MASTER Alone in her state-room all these hours, Josephine St.Auban had abundant time to reflect upon the singular nature of her situation.
At first, and very naturally, she was disposed to seek the protection of the boat's officers, but a second thought convinced her of the unwisdom of that course.

As to this stranger, this stalwart man of the West, she had appealed to him and he had made no sign.

She had no friend, no counselor.

A feeling of inefficiency, of smallness and helplessness, swept over her.

For the first time in her life she found herself hard and fast in the grasp of events over which she had absolutely no control.