As your captain, chaperon, and grandmother, I command
you to stay below."
"But--who is to steer?" queried Xanthippe.
"What's the use of steering until we can see where to steer to?" demanded
Mrs. Noah. "I certainly don't intend to bother with that tiller until some
reason for doing it arises. We haven't any place to steer to yet; we don't
know where we are going. Now, my dear children, be reasonable, and don't
worry me. I've had a very hard day of it, and I feel my responsibilities
keenly. Just let me manage, and we'll come out all right. I've had more
experience than any of you, and if--"
A terrible crash interrupted the old lady's remarks. The House-boat
shivered and shook, careened way to one side, and as quickly righted and
stood still. A mad rush up the gangway followed, and in a moment a hundred
and eighty-three pale-faced, trembling women stood upon the deck, gazing
with horror at a great helpless hulk ten feet to the rear, fastened by
broken ropes and odd pieces of rigging to the stern-posts of the
House-boat, sinking slowly but surely into the sea.
[Illustration: "A GREAT HELPLESS HULK TEN FEET TO THE REAR"]
It was the _Gehenna_!
The House-boat had run her down and her last hour had come, but, thanks to
the stanchness of her build and wonderful beam, the floating club-house
had withstood the shock of the impact and now rode the waters as
gracefully as ever.
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