knocked at her cabin door. This
circumstance, however, had not aroused any very serious alarm in the
breast of the ex-Lieutenant, who, remembering the incident of the night
before, when the young lady had come on deck after the accident to the
brig, thought it quite probable that, in consequence of her rest being
so rudely broken, she was now oversleeping herself. And in the
confidence of this belief he had ordered the steward not to attempt to
disturb her, but to prepare breakfast for her immediately upon her
appearance. And he furthermore instructed the man to notify him if she
failed to put in an appearance before four bells. As it happened, the
young lady appeared on deck, fresh and rosy as a summer morning, and
with Sailor in close attendance, a few minutes before that hour.

"What!" she exclaimed, lifting her hands in dismay as she saw Leslie
standing at the wheel, precisely as she had left him on the previous
night, "still at that dreadful wheel! Do you mean to say that you have
been standing there all this time?"

"By no means, madam," answered Leslie, cheerfully. "I have since then
had a most refreshing bath, changed my clothes, taken breakfast, and
done quite a useful amount of very necessary work. It is scarcely
needful to inquire after _your_ health, your appearance speaks for
itself; yet for form's sake let me say that I hope you are none the
worse for your very imprudent behaviour last night."

"Oh no," she answered, with a laugh and a blush that vastly became her--
so Leslie thought; "I am perfectly well, thank you. I took the grog
that you prescribed, and then went dutifully to my cabin, in obedience
to orders, where I at once fell asleep, and so remained until an hour
ago. Then I rose, dressed, and had my breakfast; and here I am, ready
and anxious to do anything I can to help."

"Help!" echoed Leslie, with a laugh. "You talked of helping last
night--and most kind it was of you to have and express the wish--but in
what possible way could a delicately nurtured girl like you help? And
yet," he continued more soberly, "you _could_ render me a little help,
once or twice a day, if you would. It is not much that I would ask of
you--merely to note the chronometer times for me when I take my
observations of the sun for the longitude. I have sometimes thought
that Chips has been a little erratic in his noting of the time; and I
have more than once had it in my mind to ask you to undertake this s