saw the flags run up, thought that all was
lost. It proved, however, to be merely some trivial message, and the
two owners breathed again.

The wind fell away on the day that they cleared the Channel, and the
whole surface of the sea was like a great expanse of quicksilver, which
shimmered in the rays of the wintry sun. There was still a considerable
swell after the recent gale, and the _Black Eagle_ lay rolling about as
though she had learned habits of inebriation from her skipper. The sky
was very clear above, but all round the horizon a low haze lay upon the
water. So silent was it that the creaking of the boats as they swung
at the davits, and the straining of the shrouds as the ship rolled,
sounded loud and clear, as did the raucous cries of a couple of gulls
which hovered round the poop. Every now and then a rumbling noise
ending in a thud down below showed that the swing of the ship had caused
something to come down with a run. Underlying all other sounds,
however, was a muffled clank, clank, which might almost make one forget
that this was a sailing ship, it sounded so like the chipping of a
propeller.

"What is that noise, Captain Miggs?" asked John Girdlestone as he stood
leaning over the quarter rail, while the old sea-dog, sextant in hand,
was taking his midday observations. The captain had been on his good
behaviour since the unexpected advent of his employers, and he was now
in a wonderful and unprecedented state of sobriety.

"Them's the pumps a-goin'," Miggs answered, packing his sextant away in
its case.

"The pumps! I thought they were only used when a ship was in danger?"

Ezra came along the deck at this moment, and listened with interest to
the conversation.

"This ship is in danger," Miggs remarked calmly.

"In danger!" cried Ezra, looking round the clear sky and placid sea.
"Where is the danger? I did not think you were such an old woman,
Miggs."

"We will see about that," the seaman answered angrily. "If a ship's got
no bottom in her she's bound to be in danger, be the weather fair or
foul."

"Do you mean to tell me this ship has no bottom?"

"I mean to tell you that there are places where you could put your
fingers through her seams. It's only the pumpin' that keeps her
afloat."

"This is a pretty state of things," said Girdlestone. "How is it that I
have not been informed of it before! It is most dangerous."

"Informed!" cried Miggs. "Informed of it! Has there