dvice now and then."

"It's of na use, Maggie. He's as obstinate as a brute beast. If he wull
na do it for your sake and the bairns--he'll no be convinced by word o'
mine. I'm thinkin', that opposition on that heid wud do mair harm than
gude."

"An' then, they women folk--Wullie. He's na to be trusted. Wi' him--out
o' sight is out o' mind. He never thinks o' his wife at hame the moment
he puts out to sea."

"Dinna be sae jealous, woman. Ha' ye na faith?" said Collins, pressing
Jean closer to his heart "Do ye think that sailors ar' waur than ither
men?"

"Ye are a' alike," sighed Meg, "though doubtless Jean thinks ye wull
ever be true to her, an' keep your eyes shut when you pass a pretty lass
for her sake. I ken you better."

"I were nae worthy to be your brither's wife, Maggie, an' I doubted his
honesty," said Jean indignantly, as she lifted her long, fair curls from
her husband's breast, and regarded him with a glance of proud devotion.
"If ye had mair faith in Jock, he wu'd be a better man."

"It's early days wi' ye yet, Jean;--wait a wee while afore ye find faut
wi' yer elders. Wullie weel kens, that I'm na mistrustfu' wi'out cause."

Flora did not hear the mate's reply: sleep weighed heavily upon her
eyelids, and she dropped off into profound repose.

CHAPTER II.

FLORA'S FELLOW-PASSENGERS.

The grey dawn glimmered faintly through the bull's-eye of ground glass
in the ceiling of Mrs. Lyndsay's cabin, before she again unclosed her
eyes. She sat up in her berth and steadied herself, glancing at first
wonderingly around her, and marvelling where she was. The heaving of the
vessel, and the quick rushing of the waves against her sides, informed
her that the ship had sailed during the night, and recalled to her mind
the events of the past day.

The voyage, whether for good or ill, had commenced; and the certainty of
her present position relieved her mind of a heavy burden of anxiety. She
rose and dressed herself, and earnestly besought the Almighty to protect
them from the perils and dangers of the deep, and watch over them for
good during their passage across the mighty waters. Strengthened and
refreshed by this act of devotion, she felt her spirits revive and her
heart expand with renewed cheerfulness and hope, and trustfully
believed that God had given a favourable answer to her prayer.

Early as the hour was, she found watchful eyes awake in the ship. The
Captain was already on deck, and Sam Fr