"So it would seem," replied the mate, with a weary look, "and yet I
sometimes feel certain that it will never be ours--Good gracious!"

The two men almost leaped out of their chairs, and their hair fairly
rose on end. They were absolutely certain that no one else was in the
cabin besides themselves. Redvignez was at the wheel, and Brazzier
awaited his call in turn at the end of the watch. But just then both
heard a rustling, and saw a movement in the berth of Captain Bergen,
which showed something was there. It couldn't be a dog or cat, for
there was nothing of the kind on board. Besides which, just then, the
two men caught sight of the little white hand which clearly belonged
to some one of their own species. Then the covering was thrown back; a
mass of tangled golden hair was observed, and instantly after, the
fair face of a young child peered wonderingly out, as if seeking to
learn where she was.

Of course the little one was Inez Hawthorne, though neither of the two
men had ever seen or heard of her before, and it is, therefore, idle
to attempt to picture their overwhelming astonishment when they
became aware so suddenly of her presence in the cabin.

Neither of the two men was superstitious; but there was good excuse
for their being wonder-struck. If an individual in the middle of a
desert should suddenly become aware of the appearance of a strange
person at his elbow, a situation apparently in which he could only be
placed by supernatural means, it would be a very mild word to say he
would be surprised.

Flinging the coverlet from her shoulders and throwing back her mass of
rich golden hair, Inez assumed the sitting position, with her dimpled
legs swinging over the side, and her little hands resting on the rail,
as if to steady herself during the long swells of the sea, while she
looked at the two men as if trying to recollect where she was and who
they were.

"Well, if that doesn't beat anything that was ever heard or read of
before!" exclaimed the captain, turning about and staring at her.
"Where in the name of the seven wonders did you come from?"

Abe Storms, the mate, did not speak, but seemed to be waiting to see
whether the child had a voice, and thus settle the question in his
mind as to whether it was mortal or not.

The problem was quickly solved, for Inez was never backward in
asserting her individuality.

"How did I come here? That's a great question to ask! I got tired and
lay down to sle