ar, the heads of the surges showing up against
the wild yellow of the eastern horizon jet black, and as sharp and
clean-cut as those that brimmed to the brig's rail. The aspect of the
sky meant wind in plenty, and before long; and I realised that unless I
could contrive to shorten sail in double-quick time the task would pass
beyond my power, and the canvas would have to remain set until it should
blow away.

At length Miss Onslow made her appearance on deck, bright, fresh, and
rosy from her night's sleep; and a cry of dismay broke from her lips as
she took in the state of affairs at a single comprehensive glance.

"Oh, Mr Conyers!" she exclaimed, "how long has it been like this? Are
we in any danger?"

"Only in so far that we stand to lose some of our sails, unless I can
contrive to get them clewed up before it comes on to blow any harder,"
answered I. "I have been waiting for you to come on deck and relieve me
at the wheel," I continued, "in order that I may get about the job at
once."

"But why did you not call me?" she demanded, as she stepped up on the
wheel grating beside me and took the spokes from my hands.

"Oh," said I, "it has not been bad enough to justify me in disturbing
you, thus far; nevertheless I am very glad to have your help now, as I
believe there is no time to lose. Kindly keep her as she now is, dead
before the wind, and I will get about the work of shortening sail
without further delay."

So saying, I hurried away forward, letting go the trysail outhaul and
the main-topsail halliards on my way; passing next to the fore-topsail
halliards, which I also let run. I then squared the yards, hauled in,
brailed up and furled the trysail, and next took the reef-tackles, one
after the other, to the winch, heaving them as taut as I could get them;
after which I jumped aloft, passed the reef earrings, and tied the
knittles. We were now tolerably safe--the brig being under close-reefed
topsails--so I hove-to while we took breakfast, after which I hauled
down and stowed the jib, got the brig away before the wind again, with
Miss Onslow at the wheel, and resumed pumping operations.

I toiled all through the day, reducing the amount of water in the hold
to a depth of eighteen inches only, and then hove-to the brig on the
port tack for the night, both of us being by this time so completely
exhausted that rest was even more important to us than food, although I
took care that we should not be obliged