k below the horizon. I
strained my eyes--the last faint line had disappeared. I could have
cried, but my grief was too bitter for tears. Not that I cared for
being carried away on my own account, but I thought of the sorrow my
kind relatives in Shetland would feel--Mr Trail and his daughter, and
dear little Maggie, and more than all how Mary would feel as she waited
day after day for the arrival of the brig which was never to appear, and
then, when all hope was gone, how she would mourn for us, and Nancy also
would, I knew, share her feelings.

If I could have sent but a line to my sister to tell her I was safe,
though I might be long absent, it would not have so much mattered. Mr
Gray would take very good care of her, and she would have written to Mr
Troil to explain what had happened; but as it was I could scarcely bear
it.

"The doctor told us to cheer up, and that's what I say to you, Peter,"
cried Jim, trying to console me. "Maybe we shall fall in with a
homeward-bound ship after all, though I don't think there's much chance
of our seeing the shores of old England again for a long time to come if
we don't, as it looks as if the wind would hold in its present quarter
till we are well out in the Atlantic."

Jim was right. With yards squared and every stitch of canvas the ship
could carry, we bowled along at a rate which soon left our native land
far astern.

I had been too long at sea, and knew the duties of a sailor too well, to
feel for myself so much as many fellows of my age under similar
circumstances would have done. Jim also tried to rouse me up, so
instead of moping I determined to exert myself. I still had the hope to
support me that before long we might fall in with a homeward-bound ship,
and I concluded that the captain would, without hesitation, put Jim and
me on board her.

The day after we took our departure from the Land's End he saw us both
together on deck.

"What are those youngsters idling there for?" he exclaimed, turning to
Mr Griffiths. "Put them in a watch at once, and let me see that they
do their duty. If they don't, let them look out for squalls!"

"Ay, ay, sir!" answered the mate, who, though of a very independent
spirit, always spoke respectfully to the captain.

He considerately placed us both in the same watch, knowing that we
should like it, as we should be able to talk at night when we were on
deck and had no especial duty to perform.

We had no reason to complain