te, "and I am watching him
myself."

"We shall do well with Maikar in the bow, for he sees like a weasel, and
is trustworthy," muttered the captain as he glanced uneasily over the
stern, where the hungry waves were still hissing tumultuously after
them, as if rendered furious by the delayed meal.

At daybreak on the second day the gale moderated a little, and they were
enabled once more to show a corner of their sail, and to encourage the
hope that the worst was over. But a fresh outburst, of greater fury
than before, soon dashed these hopes, and obliged the captain to throw
overboard all the spare spars and some of the heaviest part of the
cargo. Still the gale increased, and the impatient waves began to lip
over the poop occasionally as if unable to refrain from tasting!

"More cargo must go," muttered the captain, with a gloomy frown. Being
resolute, he gave orders to that effect.

Presently the order was given to take soundings. When this was done it
was found that they were in twenty fathoms water. On taking another
cast, the depth reported was fifteen fathoms.

There were no charts covered with soundings to guide the mariner in
those days, but it did not require much experience to convince a seaman
that land was probably too near, with such a sudden change from twenty
to fifteen fathoms. Arkal was, however, not unprepared for it, and
quickly gave orders to stand by to let go the anchors. At that moment
the voice of little Maikar was heard shouting, in stentorian tones,
"Land ahead!"

The captain replied with a sharp "let go!" and four anchors were
promptly dropped from the stern. At the same moment he placed the helm
fair amidships, and made it fast with rudder-bands. As the stern of the
_Penelope_ was formed like the bow, a sharp cut-water was by this means
instantly presented to the sea, thus avoiding the necessity and danger
incurred by modern ships, in similar circumstances, of anchoring by the
head and swinging round.

The hungry waves hissed tumultuously on, but were cleft and passed under
the ship disappointed, for there was still enough of water beneath to
permit of her tossing to and fro and rising to them like a duck, as she
strained and tugged at the anchors.

Just as these operations had been performed, the mists of darkness
seemed to lift a little and revealed a wild rocky line of coast, against
which the waves were breaking madly.

"Now all hope is over; pray to your gods, men," s