der jib and fore-sail, the mountain-seas
pursuing her and necessitating the utmost watchfulness on the part of
the helmsman to prevent her from being broached-to.

As soon as the two invalids had been satisfactorily disposed of, the
order for breakfast was given; and after a vast amount of trouble the
meal, consisting of biscuits, fried rashers of bacon, and hot coffee,
was served. The company were indebted to the efforts of Rex and Lance
for the cooking; they having taken counsel together and come to the
conclusion that after a night of such great discomfort it was absolutely
necessary that the females at least should be served with a good
substantial hot meal; and they had accordingly joined forces in the
preparation of the same, Lance seating himself coolly in the bottom of
the boat, with the water washing all round him, and balancing the
cooking apparatus carefully on his knees while Rex knelt before him
enacting the part of chief cook.

This meal, unromantic as it may sound to say so, was inexpressibly
comforting to those weak women and poor little May, all of them having
passed a wretched sleepless night, cooped up in the close confined
covered-in space in the stern of the launch, which, for want of a more
appropriate name has been termed a cabin, with the water in the bottom
of the boat surging up round them and wetting them to the skin as the
boat tossed on the angry surges, while the continuous breaking of the
seas on board filled their souls with dread that the boat could not
possibly outlive the gale much longer.

When all hands were fairly settled down to the discussion of breakfast,
Captain Staunton turned to the carpenter, who had established himself
close beside the skipper, and said--

"Now, Chips, let us hear how the mishap came about whereby you lost the
pinnace this morning;--but, before you answer me that question, tell me
do you know anything about the other boats?"

"Well, sir," responded Chips, "I can't say as I do, rightly. But when
day broke this mornin' an' we first missed 'em, Mister Bowles, he jumped
up and took a good look round, and the first thing he made out were the
launch away to wind'ard, hove-to. Then he had another good look all
round, and presently I see him put his hand up to his eyes and stand
looking away down to leeward. `Do you see anythink, sir?' says I. And
he says--still with his hand up shadin' his eyes--`I don't know, Chips,'
says he, `but I'm most certain,' says