m-ends than anything else. But, if
it is so, she is lying over so much that her sails are in the water."

"Phew!" whistled the skipper. "We must have a look at her; it will
never do to leave a ship in such a fix as that. Can you see any people
on board her, Ned?"

"No, sir," was the answer. "But if there _are_ people on board it would
be impossible to make them out from our present position."

"No, no," muttered the skipper, "I don't suppose it would; of course
not. Hark ye, Ned; just stay where you are, my lad, and let me know
when we have brought the wreck a good couple of points abaft our beam,
and in the meantime take a look round with your glass and see if you can
make out anything like a boat anywhere."

"Ay, ay, sir," replied Ned, settling himself into a comfortable, easy
position in the cross-trees, somewhat to the secret trepidation of Miss
Stanhope, who was watching his movements with a great deal of
undemonstrative interest, and who every moment dreaded that the young
man's careless attitude, coupled with the pitching of the ship, would
result in a fall. Nothing of the kind, however, happened; and in due
time Ned hailed:

"I think we can fetch her now, sir. I can make her out much better than
I could a quarter of an hour ago; and I believe she _is_ a ship on her
beam-ends. I can see nothing of boats in any direction, sir."

"Very well," replied Captain Blyth. "Stay where you are, nevertheless,
and continue to keep a bright look-out. We will tack the ship, if you
please, Mr Bryce."

"Ay, ay, sir. Hands 'bout ship!" responded the chief-mate; and in a
minute or two the men were at their stations.

"All ready, sir!" reported Mr Bryce Captain Blyth walked aft to the
mizen-rigging, signed to the helmsman, and gave the word:

"Helm's a-lee!"

"Helm's a-lee," responded the men, lifting the coiled-up braces and so
on from the pins and throwing them down on the deck all ready for
running.

The ship shot handsomely up into the wind; and the word was given to
"raise tacks and sheets," quickly followed by the other commands; and in
a couple of minutes the _Flying Cloud_ was round and heading well up for
the wreck, whilst the crew bowsed down the fore and main tacks
simultaneously with the aid of a couple of watch tackles.

To the honour of Captain Blyth be it said that, though his interest in
the race between his own ship and the _Southern Cross_ was as ardent as
though his very life depended upo