sights, I found that
the men had knocked off pumping, but were hanging about the deck, as
though waiting for something, instead of going below to dinner. And
presently I found out what was in the wind, the man known as Sam
stepping forward to inquire whereabout my observation placed the ship.
I told him.

"Then," said he, "if we steers nothe-an'-by-east a quarter east, steady,
we're bound to fetch this here Staten Hiland, are we?"

"Certainly," said I. "And I hope that we shall make it some time the
day after to-morrow."

"The day a'ter to-morrer!" ejaculated the man. "Do ye mean with this
here brig?"

"No," said I; "I mean with the boats. The brig could never fetch it, in
her present disabled condition, except with a fair wind, even if you
could keep her afloat so long, which I do not for a moment believe."

A grim smile of satisfaction--which the fellow strove to conceal--
flickered for a moment over his rugged, sullen features, and then he
turned away, without another word, and slouched forward, followed by his
companions. As for me, I went aft and took the wheel from the man who
was tending it; and, as soon as he had disappeared, lashed it, and set
about certain preparations that I felt it was now high time to make.
These did not occupy me long, and upon their completion I went below,
where--the cook and Steward having been busy at the pumps all the
morning--Florence was awaiting me with a good, appetising dinner
prepared by herself. While we were discussing the meal together--the
steward having gone forward with the others--I told my companion that
the supreme moment was at hand when it would be necessary for us to make
a bold dash for our lives, and I warned her to prepare for it by putting
all her slender stock of clothing together in a parcel, and to be ready
to act with me at a moment's notice as soon as the boats were in the
water. She received my intelligence very quietly, and although she lost
her colour and became marble-white to the lips for perhaps a minute
while I explained my plans, her courage never faltered; and when I had
finished she put her hand in mine, with the simple remark:

"Very well, Charlie dear; you have only to tell me what you wish me to
do, and you will find me obedient in every particular."

Meanwhile, the wind, which had been blowing a strong breeze at
breakfast-time, had been dropping steadily all through the day, until
toward the close of the afternoon it had softene