ven to a feeling of gratitude--perhaps in too many cases
the poor fellow has little or nothing to be grateful for--but proceeded
with the business of the vessel by appointing Peter O'Gorman, late
boatswain, and John Price, late carpenter, of the _Black Prince_, to the
positions of chief and second mate respectively. This done, the two men
named at once picked the watches; the port watch assumed duty, the
starboard watch went below, and everybody apparently settled forthwith
into his proper place. While the ceremony of picking the watches was
proceeding I availed myself of the opportunity thus afforded to take
stock of our new associates as a whole, and, after making every
allowance for the effects of the hardship and suffering that they had so
recently passed through, I was compelled to confess to myself that they
were by no means a prepossessing lot; they, one and all, O'Gorman and
Price not excepted, wore that sullen, hang-dog, ruffianly expression of
countenance that marks the very lowest class of British seamen, the scum
and refuse of the vocation. Still, we had not far to go, and I consoled
myself with the reflection that they would probably prove good enough to
serve my purpose.

On the following morning, immediately after breakfast, I secured a set
of observations of the sun for my longitude, Miss Onslow noting the
chronometer time for me; and immediately afterwards I descended to the
cabin to work them out. While on deck, engaged with the sextant, I had
noticed that my movements were being watched with extraordinary interest
by the hands on deck, and when, upon my return to the cabin, I proceeded
to make my calculations and afterwards prick off the brig's position on
the chart, I could not help observing that the steward--who was busying
himself in and out of the pantry at the time--betrayed as keen an
interest in my doings as any of the people on deck. Miss Onslow was
also watching me; and when I had finished and was about to roll up the
chart she asked me if I had found out the ship's position, whereupon I
pointed it out to her, at the same time casually mentioning the fact
that we were still one hundred and eighty miles from Table Bay. As I
said this, I saw the steward leave his pantry and go on deck. I thought
nothing of it at the time, believing that he had done so in the ordinary
course of his duty, but a little later on I had reason to believe that
his errand was to inform his shipmates as to the po