e in the corner of the shelf. Here we are now, a devilish
sight too near this infernal point. Who knows how her head is?"

"I do, O'Brien: I heard the quarter-master tell the captain S.W. by S.
Southerly."

"Let me see," continued O'Brien, "variation two and a quarter--lee way--
rather too large an allowance of that, I'm afraid; but, however, we'll
give her two and a half points; the _Diomede_ would blush to make any
more, under any circumstances. Here--the compass--now we'll see;" and
O'Brien advanced the parallel rule from the compass to the spot where
the ship was placed on the chart. "Bother! you see it's as much as
she'll do to weather the other point now, on this tack, and that's what
the captain meant when he told us we had more difficulty. I could have
taken my Bible oath that we were clear of everything, if the wind held."

"See what the distance is, O'Brien," said Robinson. It was measured,
and proved to be thirteen miles. "Only thirteen miles; and if we do
weather, we shall do very well, for the bay is deep beyond. It's a
rocky point, you see, just by way of variety. Well, my lads, I've a
piece of comfort for you, anyhow. It's not long that you'll be kept in
suspense, for by one o'clock this day, you'll either be congratulating
each other upon your good luck, or you'll be past praying for. Come,
put up the chart, for I hate to look at melancholy prospects: and,
steward, see what you can find in the way of comfort." Some bread and
cheese, with the remains of yesterday's boiled pork, were put on the
table, with a bottle of rum, procured at the time they "spliced the
main-brace;" but we were all too anxious to eat much, and one by one
returned on deck, to see how the weather was, and if the wind at all
favoured us. On deck the superior officers were in conversation with
the captain, who had expressed the same fear that O'Brien had in our
berth. The men, who knew what they had to expect--for this sort of
intelligence is soon communicated through a ship--were assembled in
knots, looking very grave, but at the same time not wanting in
confidence. They knew that they could trust to the captain, as far as
skill or courage could avail them; and sailors are too sanguine to
despair, even at the last moment.

Before twelve o'clock the rocky point which we so much dreaded was in
sight broad on the lee bow; and if the low sandy coast appeared
terrible, how much more did this, even at a distance! the black