hemselves. But now they also
began to sicken, and look pale, and anxious, and sad. Well they might
indeed!

Mr Vernon's character as a minister of the gospel now appeared to great
advantage. Fearless himself, he went among the sick and dying,
encouraging, consoling, and warning. Many of those who had before
refused his ministrations now listened to him eagerly. Vain they felt
was any hope in man. He offered foundation for hope, but it was from
above. Fond of science as he was, all his scientific pursuits were now
laid aside that he might devote himself to the duties of his far higher
ministerial calling.

Mr Grimes made his appearance on deck before the captain. He could
scarcely be persuaded that some days had passed while he was below, and
was much puzzled to account for it. He thought that he had had the
fever, but never appeared to suspect the true cause of his illness,
till, asking for his sextant, the fragments were brought him by the
steward, who minutely explained how it had been broken. Then the truth
burst on him, but it did not make him at all ashamed; he only became
more savage and tyrannical. I felt very sure that, although I had
hitherto enjoyed a tolerable immunity from ill-treatment, my time would
come before long.

For some days, though the people continued sickly, death had not visited
us, and the spirits of the crew and passengers rose accordingly. The
great desire was to get a breeze. Sailors have a trick of whistling
when they want wind--trick it is, because very few really believe that
their whistling will bring a wind. It was amusing to see everybody
whistling; the boys forward took it up--the passengers aft; the gruff
old boatswain was whistling more furiously than anybody, but I saw him
cock his eye knowingly at some clouds gathering to the northward. Just
then, as I was looking aloft, I saw a bird pitch on the fore-topgallant
yard-arm.

"A booby! a booby!" was the cry.

Tommy Bigg was in the fore-top, sent up for something or other, and the
desire to possess the bird seized him. Any incident, however light,
creates a sensation in a calm. All eyes were directed towards Tommy and
the bird. It was a great doubt whether the latter would not fly away,
however, before Tommy got him.

"What is it you are looking at?" asked Sills, just then coming on deck.

"A booby, lad," answered the doctor, to whom he spoke regarding him
calmly; whereat Broom and Waller laughed, but Sills