angerous, little known coast.

The cabin passengers and the most trustworthy of the second-class ones
formed themselves into a guard, and kept regular watch over the
prisoners, so as to prevent any attempt which might be made to rescue
them. Hour after hour passed away, leaving us still in a state of great
suspense and anxiety. Evening approached--the calm continued. Darkness
at length descended once more over the waters, and, though it concealed,
much increased our danger. We could feel, too, by the increased motion
of the ship, that although the calm continued, the form of the
undulations had changed, and that heavy rollers were now moving under us
towards the shore. Still the water was far too deep to allow us to
anchor with the slightest hope of our anchors holding. I asked Mr
Henley what he thought of the state of things.

"Why, Marsden, that I have never been in so dangerous a position in all
my life," he answered; "and to this condition we have been brought by
the folly and wickedness of one man. Had he done his duty, nothing of
this sort would have occurred. However, it is too late now to complain.
Let us, at all events, try to do ours. Oh, that we had but a breath of
wind, to get steerage way on the ship!"

As helpless as a mere log floated on our gallant ship, her head slowly
pointing round to all the points of the compass. How anxiously did
every one look out for the sign of a coming breeze! As to turning in,
no one who had the sense to comprehend the condition of the ship thought
of doing so. Sills and Broom came up, and inquiring what I thought of
the state of affairs, bitterly regretted their folly in coming to sea,
and asked me if I was not very sorry at having left home.

"No, far from it," I answered. "I had an important object to gain, and
I knew that it could not be obtained without encountering many dangers
and difficulties. This is one of them; but I do not despair of
escaping, though at present I do not see the way we shall do so."

"Ah, I am glad to hear you say that, Marsden," said Sills. "It's a
comfort, isn't it, Broom, to find that anybody thinks we shall escape?"

"If his opinion was worth much, it would be," growled out Broom. "For
my part, I have no great faith in what anybody says."

I answered that I would not quarrel with him on account of his polite
remarks, but that I only hoped my opinion would prove correct in this
instance, at all events.

About midnight, in