eep! Why didn't I let that doctor come?
Denis, my boy, if I die, or if we are drowned, or--go up and ask the
shipmaster how long it will be before we get across."

In no wise troubled by the pitching and tossing of the clumsy vessel,
Denis climbed on deck; but it was some moments before he could make out
where the captain stood, and then only by the help of one of the men,
who pointed out the dim figure in the semi-darkness lightened by the
foam, standing beside the man at the rudder beam; and then it needed no
little care to pass along, holding on by the bulwarks, to ask the
question the lad was sent to bear.

"How long, my lad?" said the skipper. "Oh, very soon. We are flying
across to-night. This is the fastest run I can remember to have made."

"But are we nearly there?"

"Nearly there! No, not halfway; but if the wind holds on like this we
shall be across in time for dinner at noon to-morrow, and perhaps
before."

"So long as that?" cried Denis.

"So soon as that," said the skipper, laughing. "There, I see how it is.
You are afraid--"

"I'm not!" cried Denis sharply.

"Don't be in such a hurry, my lad. You don't give a man time to speak--
about your horses, I was going to say. But they're all right. I have
another rope passed from neck to neck, and as soon as the poor beasts
felt it it seemed to give them comfort, like being more in company.
Don't you be afraid. They're noble animals, but not fit for work like
this. Go and see."

Denis hurried to where Saint Simon was standing with the horses,
drenched with spray, and growing impatient at his task.

"Oh, there you are!" he cried. "Why didn't you come before?"

"I couldn't leave him. He sent me up to ask how soon we shall be
across."

"Well?"

"The skipper says at noon to-morrow."

"Not till then?" said Saint Simon.

"No."

"Well, I'm glad of it. Serve him right. It will finish this wild-goose
chase and send him back quite satisfied, ready to settle down again."

"I hope so," said Denis. "How wet you are!"

"Yes, I don't mind now," said Saint Simon. "It was very horrible at
first, but I can't get any wetter, and that's some comfort after all."

"I'd stop and keep guard myself so that you could go into shelter," said
Denis; "but I must go down again to tell him what I have learned. But
why couldn't you go?"

"Because he sent you, and he'd be furious perhaps. There, go and tell
him."

"Yes, I had better go," said the lad