from the royal-yard
their upper canvas only, and the heads of their lower sails, were to be
seen; but I had not got them within the field of the telescope more than
a minute when I became convinced that the lost was found--that they were
the two vessels for which we had been looking. The ship was under quite
a respectable jury-rig, and was carrying topgallant-sails and jib, while
the brigantine seemed to be under double-reefed canvas, doubtless to
moderate her speed to that of the disabled ship. They were close
together, and steering to the south-west like ourselves. Having
thoroughly satisfied myself upon these points, I descended and made my
report to the skipper.

The old fellow chuckled and rubbed his hands. "What a lucky thing it
was that the breeze did not freshen during the night," he remarked.
"Had it done so we should have passed those two craft without seeing
them; whereas now, if all goes well, we will have the pair of them
before dark. And to think that we were grumbling about the light airs
during the night! Upon my word, I am beginning to believe that the
parsons are only speaking the simple truth when they say that we can
never tell what is really best for us. However, this is not the time to
discuss matters of that sort. How do you say the vessels bear from us?"

"Broad on the lee bow, sir, or as nearly as possible dead to leeward,"
answered I.

"Then, if we keep away a couple of points we shall just about hit them
off," remarked the skipper. He gave the necessary instructions to the
helmsman, and then, turning again to me, continued:

"We may as well get this business over as soon as possible, George; so
get the stunsails, big gaff-topsail, and main-topmast-staysail on her at
once, my lad, and give the little hooker a chance to go through the
water."

These additions to our canvas were soon made, and then the watch
returned to the work upon which they had been previously engaged, as we
did not expect to overtake the object of our pursuit for several hours.

It was just noon, and we were still engaged upon our observations of the
sun for the determination of the latitude, when the captain made out,
through the telescope of his sextant, the mast-heads of the brigantine
just peeping above the line of the southern horizon; and while we were
in the cabin getting our dinner, Comben, who had charge of the deck,
reported, through the open skylight, that the brigantine had apparently
just sighte