captain came in it seemed to the lad that he looked
careworn and anxious. But Mark was too ill to trouble himself about the
storm or the ship, or what was to become of them, and he lay there
perfectly prostrate.

The steward came from time to time anxious looking and pale, but Mark
did not notice it. He for the most part refused the food that was
brought to him, and lay back in a sort of stupor, till at last it seemed
to him that the ship was not rocking about so violently.

Then came a time when the cabin seemed to grow light, and the steps of
men sounded overhead as they were removing some kind of shutter.

Lastly he woke one morning with the sun shining, and his father, looking
very haggard, sitting by his berth.

"Well, my lad," he said, "this has been a sorry holiday for you. Come,
can't you hold up a bit? The steward's going to bring you some tea."

"I--can't touch anything, father; but has the storm gone?"

"Thank Heaven! yes, my lad. I never was in a worse!"

"But you said it was a capful of wind," said Mark faintly.

"Capful, my lad! it was a hurricane, and I'm afraid many a good ship has
fared badly."

"But the _Petrel's_ all right, father?"

"Behaved splendidly."

"Are we--nearly at Plymouth?" was Mark's next question.

"Nearly where?"

"At Plymouth. I think, as I'm so ill, I'd better not go any farther.
How is mother?"

"Going to get up, my lad, and that's what you've got to do."

"I'll try, father. When shall I go ashore?"

"If you like, at Malta, for a few hours," said the captain drily; "not
before."

"At Malta!" said Mark, raising himself upon one arm.

"Yes, at Malta. Do you know where we are?"

"Somewhere off the Devon coast, I suppose."

"You were, a week ago, my boy. There, get up and dress yourself; the
sun shines and the sea's calm, and in a few hours I can show you the
coast of Spain."

"But, father," cried Mark, upon whom this news seemed to have a magical
effect, "aren't we going ashore at Penzance."

"Penzance, my boy! We had one of the narrowest of shaves of going on
the Lizard Rocks, and were only too glad to get plenty of sea-room. Do
you know we've been running for a week under storm topsails, and in as
dangerous a storm as a ship could face?"

"I knew it had been very bad, father, but not like that. What are you
going to do?"

"Make the best of things, sir. Look here, Mark, you wanted to come for
a voyage with me."

"Yes, father."

"Well, I s