t hold of her in
tacking, and you, Victor, throw yourself into her rigging as soon as you
get the chance... bring the boat round! Now! Clear!"

The cutter turned and steered a course to the brig which lay outside,
pitching.

"Queer that she should have furled all her canvas. ... Can any one see
a light aboard? No! And no light on the masthead, either! Look out,
Victor!" Now the cutter was alongside; Victor stood waiting on the
gunwale, and the next time she rose on the crest of a big wave, he leapt
into the rigging of the brig, while the cutter sheered off, tacked, and
made for the harbour.

Victor sat in the rigging, half-way between deck and cross-trees, trying
to recover his breath before descending on deck. As soon as he came
down he went to the helm, which was quite the right thing for him to
do. Imagine how shocked he was when he found it deserted! He shouted "Ho
there!" but received no reply.

"They're all inside, drinking," he thought, peering through the cabin
windows. No, not a soul! He crossed over to the kitchen, examined the
quarterdeck,--not a living being anywhere. Then he realised that he
was on a deserted ship; he concluded that she had sprung a leak and was
sinking.

He tried to discover the whereabouts of the cutter, but she had
disappeared in the darkness.

It was quite impossible for him to make port. To set the sails, haul
in the brails and bowlines, and at the same time stand at the helm, was
more than any sailor could manage.

There was nothing to bee done, then, but let the vessel drift, although
he was aware of the fact that she was drifting out to sea.

It would not be true to say that he was pleased, but a pilot is prepared
for anything, and the thought that he might possibly meet a sailing
ship by and by, reassured him. But it was necessary to show a light and
signal.

He made his way towards the kitchen, intending to look for matches and
a lantern. Although the sea was very rough, he noticed that the ship did
not move, a fact which astonished him very much. But when he came to
the mainmast, he was even more astonished to find himself walking on a
parqueted floor, partly covered by a strip of carpet of a small blue
and white checked pattern. He walked and walked, but still the carpet
stretched before him, and still he came no nearer to the kitchen. It was
certainly uncanny, but it was also amusing, for it was a new experience.

He was a long way off the end of the carpet yet, wh