XI

The Stiller of the Storm




"BE OF GOOD CHEER; IT IS I; BE NOT AFRAID"




XI

The Stiller of the Storm


"It's Christmas eve at home," murmured the young lad after he had said
his prayers and tumbled into his narrow berth on the great ship. "I
suppose they're trimming the Christmas tree now and hanging up the
stockings. I wish I were there."

He was very young to serve his country, but not too young according to
the standards of mankind to be a midshipman on the great steel monster
keeping the leaden deep. It was the first time he had ever been away
from home on Christmas day, too. The youngsters had all laughed and
joked about it in the steerage mess. They had promised themselves some
kind of a celebration in the morning, but in his own cot with no one to
see, a few tears which he fondly deemed unmanly would come. He had the