The Secret

by Winfie (5-B-1)

11

"All visitors ashore ! Passengers begin to line the rails; visitors pour down the gangways and gather on the wharf; streamers flutter down to them; conversation rises and shouts from ship to shore and back become more numerous and high-pitched as excitement rises, as it always does, when a liner is about to sail. Children caught up in the excitement, stand wide-eyed with their parents.

Ah, there goes

one gangway and look! One or two lines have been slipped. Pilot and captain are on the shoreside wing of the bridge. At last, call is made for all visitors to leave before the last gangway is lowered, and tugs which have been hovering by close in on the ship.

Three long blasts and, on the dot, with shouts of farewell and some tears, the huge liner begins to move and leave the wharf. Above the noise, sounds of stir- ains of the ship's band playing nostalgic music.

Now the ship is turning. A few last waves and the crowd begins to drift towards the exits. Passengers on board move from the rails and make their way to cabin or lounges.

John made his way slowly below deck. Entering his cabin, he stood for a moment in the doorway, then he switched on the light. Meditatively he closed the door and then pushed the catch. If the steward knocked he could not enter. John wanted to be alone for a time. He had come for one reason; to test himself out. He knew he was safe in some degree.

He was going only as far as Honolulu so he would not have to pass through customs he felt sure. His bags lay on his bunk just as he had put them. The cabin steward had probably been too busy to come in to put his things away. Perhaps he should give the man

53.