armly; "when
I thought the ship was going over, I looked at him, and there he stood,
as calm and unmoved as if we had been running before a light breeze with
all sail set."

Norah's eye brightened as her brother spoke, and a smile played over her
countenance, though she said nothing.

"You will do well to imitate him, Gerald," remarked the captain; "he is
calm and confident because he thoroughly knows his business and what
will have to be done under every emergency. A better seaman never trod
the deck of a merchant vessel, or a king's ship either. When this
voyage is over, as Norah insists on my not going to sea again, I intend
to get the owners to give him the command of the _Ouzel Galley_--they
know their own interests too well to refuse my request. Before long you
will be old enough, Gerald, to become second mate, and perhaps, if the
stout ship meets with no mishap, to command her one of these days,
should Owen get a larger craft, or take it into his head to come and
live on shore."

Gerald was glad to hear his father speak in this style; it showed that
he was already getting better and recovering his spirits, which had been
much cast down, especially since the death of so many of the crew. He
now inquired how the others were getting on, and sent Gerald forward to
learn. He soon came back with the report that two already seemed much
better, but that the third had as yet shown no signs of amendment.

"They'll pick up, poor fellows, when we get into a cooler latitude,"
observed the captain. "I feel myself already another man, and hope to
be on deck in a day or two."

Tim, the cabin-boy, now entered to prepare the table for supper. It
still wanted an hour or more to-night, but that meal in those days was
taken earlier than at present. Pompey, notwithstanding the way the
vessel was tumbling about, had managed to keep his fire in and to cook
some broth for the captain and the sick men--for they were unable to
partake of more substantial fare. Norah had become so accustomed to a
sea life in all weathers, that she was able to attend to her father and
to take her seat at table. Tim, as soon as he had placed the dishes,
well secured with the usual puddings and fiddles, went to summon the
mate, who was generally on such occasions relieved by the boatswain; but
Tim came back to say that Mr Massey could not quit the deck till the
gale moderated. Gerald, having despatched his supper, quickly joined
him.

"What