"No, uncle, I suppose not; but somehow I felt that I had been close to
that one who nearly ran up against me before, and when he said
`_Pardon_'--"

"I didn't hear him say `_Pardon_,'" said Uncle Paul.

"But he did, uncle, just in a low tone so that I could hardly hear him,
and then I felt sure we had met before."

"Nonsense!" cried Uncle Paul. "Look here, my boy, how much sleep did
you have last night?"

"Sleep, uncle!" cried the boy, in a voice full of surprise.

"Why, none at all. Who could sleep through that storm?"

"I'll answer for myself," said the doctor; "I could not. Well, you were
completely tired out, and are half dreaming now. Come along; let's find
the boat and get on board for a light supper and a good night's rest."

"Yes, uncle," said Rodd quietly; "but take care; we are on the wharf. I
can make out the shipping plainly now;" and as he spoke a familiar hail
came out of the darkness, while as they answered the captain strode
towards them.

"Thought you were lost, gentlemen. Been waiting half-an-hour. Take
care; the boat's down here;" and striding along the top of the harbour
wall the skipper led the way to the descending steps, where the boat was
waiting, and they were rowed aboard.

An hour later Rodd was plunged in the deepest of deep sleeps, but
dreaming all the same of the storm and of getting into difficulties with
some one who was constantly running against him and whispering softly,
"Pardon!"

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

THE SUSPICIOUS CRAFT.

"Oh, I say, Uncle Paul, isn't it horrible?" cried Rodd the next morning.

Breakfast was just over, and Captain Chubb had gone on deck, while the
wind was howling furiously as if in a rage to find its playthings, some
two or three hundred vessels of different tonnage, safely moored in the
shelter of the harbour, and out of its power to toss here and there and
pitch so many helpless ruins to be beaten to pieces upon the shore.

Down it kept coming right in amongst them, making them check at their
mooring cables and chains, but in vain, for their crews had been too
busy, and the only satisfaction that the tempest could obtain, was to
hearken to the miserable dreary groans that were here and there emitted
as some of the least fortunate and worst secured ground against each
other.

"Isn't it horrible, uncle?" shouted Rodd, for the rain just then was
mingled with good-sized hailstones, and was rattling down upon the deck
and skylight in a way