er's
watch on deck, so that he was not present.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

THE VOYAGE OF THE "INTREPID" BEGUN.

I slept right through the night, and was surprised to find when I opened
my eyes that it was daylight. Jim and I at once turned out and went on
deck.

There was the land, broad on the starboard bow, still at some distance.
When I looked aloft I saw that the yards were square, and studding-sails
on either side. A strong north-easterly wind was blowing, and we were
running down Channel.

The captain, the first mate, and the doctor were on deck. Jim and I
gazed eagerly at the land.

I went up to the doctor.

"Whereabouts are we, sir?" I asked.

"We are off the Start, my lad."

"Off the Start!" I exclaimed. "Oh, sir, won't the captain put into
Plymouth to land us as he promised? Do speak to him, sir."

"These lads are very anxious to be landed, Captain Hawkins," he said.
"It is of the greatest importance to young Trawl here, and it would not
much delay us."

The mate spoke in the same way, and entreated the captain even in
stronger language than Dr Cockle had used.

"No, no," he answered. "Very likely they do wish to be put on shore,
but we cannot lose a moment of this fine breeze. The trip won't do them
any harm, and they'll thank me for it by-and-by."

Jim, when he heard this, was too angry on my account to speak, but I
lifted up my hands and implored the captain to have pity on my young
sister, if not on me.

"Very fine, my lad," he answered, with a laugh; "but you are not quite
of so much importance as you suppose. It might delay us not only for a
few hours, but for days, perhaps, and, doctor, I cannot listen to you.
We've got a favourable breeze, and I intend to make the best use of it."

Once more I implored and entreated that the captain would not carry us
away from home. All was of no use; he would not listen either to the
doctor or the mate, or us. At length, growing angry, he said he would
not hear another word on the subject, and Jim and I, by the doctor's
advice, went for'ard to be out of his way. There we stood, watching
with straining eyes the shore, past which we were running, and at length
the Land's End came in sight.

"Cheer up, my lads," said our kind friend, who came for'ard to us. "The
wind may change, and we may be driven back, or we may be able to put you
on board some homeward-bound ship. Cheer up! Cheer up!"

The land, as I stood gazing at it, rapidly san