Belchior glanced at his
captors, at his eager, waiting crew, at the wheel without a helmsman,
at a darkening of the water on the starboard bow to the southward, up
aloft, and back again at the three frowning muzzles so close to his
head.

"One hand to the wheel! Square in main and cro'-jack yards!" he called.
He was conquered.

With a hurrah which indicated the sincerity of these orders, the crew
sprang to obey them, and with foreyards braced to starboard and
head-sheets flat, the ship _Wilmington_ paid off, wore around, and
bringing the young breeze on the port quarter, steadied down to a
course for Sandy Hook, which the captain, with hands released, but
still under the influence of those threatening pistols, worked out from
the mate's dead-reckoning. Then he was pinioned again, but allowed to
pace the deck and watch his ship, while the two officers were kept
under the rail, sometimes stepped upon or kicked, and often admonished
on the evil of their ways.

Early passengers on the East River ferryboats were treated to a novel
sight next morning, which they appreciated according to their nautical
knowledge. A lofty ship, with sky-sails and royals hanging in the
buntlines, and jibs tailing ahead like flags, was charging up the
harbor before a humming southerly breeze, followed by an elbowing crowd
of puffing, whistling, snub-nosed tugs. It was noticeable that whenever
a fresh tug arrived alongside, little white clouds left her
quarter-deck, and that tug suddenly sheered off to take a position in
the parade astern. Abreast of Governor's Island, topgallant-halyards
were let go, as were those of the jibs; but no cluing up or hauling
down was done, nor were any men seen on her forecastle-deck getting
ready lines or ground-tackle. She passed the Battery and up the East
River, craft of all kinds getting out of her way,--for it was obvious
that something was wrong with her,--until, rounding slowly to a
starboard wheel, with canvas rattling and running-gear in bights, she
headed straight for a slip partly filled with canal-boats. Now her
topsail-halyards were let go, and three heavy yards came down by the
run, breaking across the caps; and amid a grinding, creaking, and
crashing of riven timbers, and a deafening din of applauding tug
whistles, she plowed her way into the nest of canal-boats and came to a
stop.

Then was a hejira. Down her black sides by ropes and chain-plates, to
the wrecked and sinking canal-boats,--some