day went by, the wind still holding fair. I
pointed out to Jim how thankful we should be for this, as I was certain
that in the latitude where we were there was seldom so long a
continuance of fine weather. He, however, was far from easy in his
mind. He was sure, he said, that we ought to have seen the land before
this, and was continually, when not working the pump, going forward to
look out for it.

"I knows that England is an island, as the song says, `Our right little,
tight little island;' and don't you think that somehow we may have
passed to the nor'ard of it, and be going away into the Atlantic?"

"I hope not," I answered; "for if so we shall not get into port till we
have run right across it; but I am sure the captain never intended us to
do that when he told us to steer west; I think rather that we have not
been going as fast as we supposed. I'll heave the log and try, though
it will be a difficult job to do so."

I got out the reel and glass. The latter I gave to Jim to hold with one
hand, while he steered with the other. The handle of the reel I managed
to put into a hole in the shattered bulwarks, so that it could run round
easily. I then took the log-ship in my right hand and hove it.

"Turn!" I cried.

"Turn!" said Jim.

The line ran slowly out.

"Stop!" cried Jim.

I examined the line.

Two knots and a half was all it showed. Jim thought we were going four.
I was thus certain that we had run a much shorter distance than he
supposed, but he was not convinced that I was right.

Day and night, between the intervals of pumping, he went forward to look
out. Another day went by. It was again night Jim had been a long time
pumping when he said that he would go forward and look out till it was
his turn to take the helm. I advised him rather to lie down, as I was
sure that he must be tired, but he would not, and away he went into the
darkness towards the bows.

I every now and then hailed him and he answered. I had not hailed for
some time when I felt the breeze freshen. The main-topsail and mainsail
bulged out, straining at the sheets, and the masts began to complain.

"Jim! Jim!" I shouted, "shorten sail, be smart about it."

But Jim did not answer. I dared not leave the helm lest the brig should
broach to and our masts again be carried overboard.

Once more I shouted, "Jim! Jim!" Still he did not come, and the
dreadful idea arose in my mind that he had fallen overboard.