it seemed to me as though they were
shouting. I thought I heard them say, 'Here, quick, look to the
hatches!' but as nobody was called up, I presumed that nothing serious
was the matter."

As he spoke I cast my eye at the panel-slides, which fore and aft of the
main-mast open into the hold. They seemed to be all close as usual,
but I now observed for the first time that they were covered with heavy
tarpauling. Wondering; in my own mind what could be the reason for
these extra precautions I did not say anything to M. Letourneur, but
determined to wait until the mate should come on watch, when he would
doubtless give me, I thought, an explanation of the mystery.

The sun rose gloriously, with every promise of a fine dry day. The
waning moon was yet above the western horizon, for as it still wants
three days to her last quarter she does not set until 10.57 am. On
consulting my almanac, I find that there will be a new moon on the 24th,
and that on that day, little as it may affect us here in mid ocean, the
phenomenon of the high sygyzian tides will take place on the shores of
every continent and island.

At the breakfast hour M. Letourneur and Andre went below for a cup of
tea, and I remained on the poop alone. As I expected, Curtis appeared,
that he might relieve Lieutenant Walter of the watch. I advanced to meet
him, but before he even wished me good morning, I saw him cast a quick
and searching glance upon the deck, and then, with a slightly contracted
brow, proceed to examine the state of the weather and the trim of the
sails.

"Where is Captain Huntly?" he said to Walter.

"I have seen nothing of him," answered the lieutenant "is there anything
fresh up?"

"Nothing, whatever," was the curt reply.

They then conversed for a few moments in an undertone, and I could see
that Walter by his gesture gave a negative answer to some question which
the mate had asked him. "Send me the boatswain, Walter," said Curtis
aloud as the lieutenant moved away.

The boatswain immediately appeared, and another conversation was carried
on in whispers. The man repeatedly shook his head as he replied to
Curtis's inquiries, and then, in obedience to orders, called the men
who were on watch, and made them plentifully water the tarpauling that
covered the great hatchway.

Curious to fathom the mystery I went up to Curtis and began to talk to
him upon ordinary topics, hoping that he would himself introduce the
subject that was uppermo