Corvo, not only for the reason that I have mentioned, but also
because most homeward-bound ships endeavour to make the Azores, and we
therefore stand a very good chance of being picked up at any moment.
Now, gentlemen, those of you who are in charge of boats will be pleased
to remember that the course is north-east by north, and the distance
seven hundred and twenty miles. You will also be pleased to remember
that the boats are to keep company as long as the weather will permit,
unless otherwise ordered by me. And now, as I do not intend to make a
start until to-morrow morning, you had better arrange the watches in
each boat, and secure all the rest that you can."

This very sensible recommendation was at once adopted all round; but, as
far as the gig was concerned, sleep appeared to be out of the question,
the strong glare of light from the burning ship--although the boats had
hauled off to a distance of fully half a mile from her--and, still more,
the novelty and excitement of our situation, seeming to have completely
banished slumber from our eyelids.

At length, toward two o'clock in the morning--by which time the Indiaman
had become the mere shell of a ship, a blazing furnace from stem to
stern,--a light breeze sprang up from the north-north-east, almost dead
in our teeth for the voyage to the Azores; and the order was passed
along for the boats to set their sails and make short reaches, for the
purpose of maintaining their position near the ship. This was done, and
then the only bad quality that the boats appeared to possess rapidly
declared itself. They were, one and all, staunch, well-built, and
finely-modelled boats, excellently adapted for their work in all
respects save one, which, in the present case, was of very great
importance: their keels were so shallow that they had no grip of the
water; and the result of this was that, as we quickly discovered, they
would not turn to windward. The gig, which had been built with an
especial eye to speed, was the least serious offender in this respect;
indeed, so long as the water remained smooth, we managed to hold our own
with her, and a trifle to spare; the long-boat, probably from her size
and superior depth of body, came next; but the others sagged away to
leeward from the first, despite the utmost efforts of those in charge;
and, consequently, in order to remain in company, we were obliged to
bear up and run down to them. Within an hour from the moment of ma