imed the merchant, who was really an upright and
generous-hearted man. "Nothing would give me greater satisfaction than
to see the _Ouzel Galley_ coming in under charge of her young master,
with or without her cargo, however much thereby Ferris, Twigg, and Cash
might be out of pocket. We'll now go and join our friends--and I beg
you to believe that nothing you may say will alter the respect in which
I hold you."

The matter on which the party had been assembled was soon discussed.
Some were of opinion that the _Ouzel Galley_ had been lost; others, that
she had been captured; while several held with Captain Tracy that she
was still afloat, perhaps dismasted or waterlogged, but that she would
in time find her way home. One fact was certain, that she had not yet
made her appearance, and that nothing had been heard of her since she
was seen off Bellevue on the morning of the hurricane. The important
point decided was that the two parties should on no account go to law,
and that they should wait a further decision till efforts had been made
to discover the fate of the missing ship, should she not in the mean
time return to port. Mr Ferris was informed that she had not yet
arrived, and was requested to take all the steps he could devise for
discovering what had become of her. Among others, he was to apply to
the admiral to ascertain if any British cruisers had seen or heard of
such a vessel in distress, while notice was to be sent on board every
merchantman begging the master to make inquiries concerning her, or to
afford any information he might already have obtained.

Captain Tracy, having concluded all the business he had to transact in
Dublin, went back to Waterford. What a blessed thing is hope! Poor
Norah and the widow were still supported by the expectation of the
_Ouzel Galley's_ return, even although every one else in Waterford
believed that she was long since at the bottom of the ocean. Day after
day and week after week went by, and still the _Ouzel Galley_ did not
appear. Norah's cheek was becoming thinner and paler, and the widow's
heart sadder and sadder. It seemed hard indeed to lose her only child;
but she trusted in God. She knew that He orders all for the best, and
not once did she allow her heart to entertain rebellious thoughts
against His love and mercy. Anxiously did the captain and Norah look
out for letters from Jamaica; they hoped that Gerald would send them
information. At all events, i