reated if he had been sent
forward," said Gerald.

"I must hear more about him from Owen," said the captain; "ask him to
come here as soon as he can leave the deck and has got on dry clothes.
How's the weather now, Gerald?"

"It is moderating rapidly, father, and the mate thinks we shall have
smooth water and a light breeze before night," was the answer.

When Gerald returned on deck he found the mate giving orders to loose
the topsails. As soon as this was done, the wind still decreasing, the
foresail and mainsail were set, and before long the ship was bounding
proudly over the seas with as much canvas as could be carried. At
length, leaving the deck in charge of the boatswain, Owen repaired to
the cabin and answered many questions put to him by the captain. He
might well have been satisfied with the approbation he received from
Norah, if not from her lips, from those bright blue eyes of hers--even
the captain forgot to scold him as he had intended for his rashness.

"We shall hear more about the man to-morrow, when he has recovered," he
observed; "he'll need a long rest, for he must have pretty well given up
all hope of his life when you saved him, till the ship hove in sight--
and even then he could scarcely expect to be picked up with the sea
there was running at the time. Well, I trust that he'll be grateful."

The captain then made inquiries about the sick men, of whom Owen was
able to give a favourable report.

"Thank God for that!" said the captain. "I feel myself quite another
man to what I have been for many a day, and I hope to-morrow to be on
deck again. If this stranger proves to be a seaman he may give you some
relief by doing duty on board; you've had a trying time of it, Owen, and
it is a mercy you've not knocked up."

Owen now bade the captain and mistress Norah good night, and went on
deck, when he desired the boatswain--the only person besides himself to
whom the charge of the ship could be confided--to turn in, that he might
relieve him in the next watch, should the weather continue to improve as
he hoped it would do. He was not disappointed; when the morning broke,
the ship was running on before a fair and moderate breeze. The rest of
the usual canvas was set, and under all sail the _Ouzel Galley_ made
good way towards her destination. With a thankful heart, soon after
breakfast, Norah accompanied her father on deck. The other sick men
were able to crawl up and enjoy the fresh air,