She seemed to be brooding, solitary and remote, yet shrinking ever within herself; quite unknowing, she offered a piteous example of the old Hebrew's dire truism that man came naked into the world and naked shall he depart.
In a curiously detached way she wondered why Hozier did not return.
The prayers and curses of the men surrounding her fell unheeded on her ears.

Where was Hozier?
What was he doing?
Why did he not come to her?
She felt a strange confidence in him.

If he had not been struck down by that calamitous shell he would have saved the ship--assuredly he would have devised some means of saving their lives! Perhaps, even now, he was attempting some desperate expedient!.

.

.