y
and sensibly. He shows no tokens of insanity. Perhaps his case is one
of those in which insanity is partial, and where the mania is of
a character which extends only to the matters connected with his
profession. Yet it is unaccountable.

I can get nothing out of Curtis; he listens coldly whenever I allude
to the subject, and only repeats what he has said before, that nothing
short of an overt act of madness on the part of the captain could induce
him to supersede the captain's authority and that the imminent peril of
the ship could alone justify him in taking so decided a measure.

Last evening I went to my cabin about eight o'clock, and after an hour's
reading by the light of my cabin-lamp, I retired to my berth and was
soon asleep. Some hours later I was aroused by an unaccustomed noise on
deck. There were heavy footsteps hurrying to and fro, and the voices
of the men were loud and eager, as if the crew were agitated by some
strange disturbance. My first impression was, that some tacking had been
ordered which rendered it needful to fathom the yards; but the vessel
continuing to lie to starboard convinced me that this was not the origin
of the commotion, I was curious to know the truth, and made all haste
I could to go on deck; but before I was ready, the noise had ceased.
I heard Captain Huntly return to his cabin, and accordingly I retired
again to my own berth. Whatever may have been the meaning of the
manoeuvre, I cannot tell; it did not seem to have resulted in any
improvement in the ship's pace; still it must be owned there was not
much wind to speed us along.

At six o'clock this morning I mounted the poop and made as keen a
scrutiny as I could of everything on board. Everything appeared as
usual. The "Chancellor" was running on the larboard tack, and carried
low-sails, top-sails, and gallant-sails. Well braced she was; and under
a fresh, but not uneasy breeze, was making no less than eleven knots an
hour.

Shortly afterwards M. Letourneur and Andre came an deck. The young man
enjoyed the early morning air, laden with its briny fragrance, and I
assisted him to mount the poop. In answer to my inquiry as to whether
they had been disturbed by any bustle in the night, Andre replied that
he did not wake at all, and had heard nothing.

"I am glad, my boy," said his father, "that you have slept so soundly. I
heard the noise of which Mr. Kazallon speaks. It must have; been about
three o'clock this morning, and