some on board the "Trident," however, who knew the danger of
their position full well, but who were too considerate of the feelings
of the women and children to let their knowledge appear even in their
looks. The sailors knew the danger of a lee-shore; but sailors are to a
large extent a reckless and hopeful class of men, whose equanimity is
not easily upset. The captain, too, and the pilot, were alive to their
critical position, but both were sanguine and hoped to get into the
Downs before the storm should break.

A few of the male passengers also seemed to be aware of the fact that
approaching the Downs on such a night was anything but matter of
gratulation. One in particular, a tall strong man of about forty, with
a bushy black beard and a stern aspect, walked about the quarterdeck
with a frown on his countenance that betokened a mind ill at ease.

Going up to the captain, who stood near the wheel, this man asked him
what he thought of the weather.

"It don't look well; we shall have a dirty night, I fear," replied the
captain.

"Do you expect to make the Downs before the storm breaks?" inquired the
passenger.

"Well, I _hope_ so," said the Captain.

"Supposing you do," continued the dark man, "do you consider your cables
and ground-tackle strong enough to hold the ship in the face of an
easterly gale?"

"Why do you ask that?" said the Captain in surprise.

"Because," replied the passenger, "I have my doubts on the point."

"Well, to tell you the truth," said the other, in a low tone, "I confess
that my mind is more uneasy on that score than on any other. The cables
are fit enough to hold her in ordinary weather; but if we were obliged
to anchor off a lee-shore in a heavy gale on an exposed coast like this
I would be somewhat anxious."

"Why is the ground tackle _not_ strong enough?" asked the passenger.

"Well, it's not easy to answer that," replied the Captain, with a smile,
"and yet it ain't difficult to conceive that it would cost a good deal
to supply new and heavier chains and anchors to the ship."

"Ay, the old story--_economy_!" said the passenger bitterly, almost
fiercely; "a set of selfish land-lubbers who know nothing whatever about
the sea, and care for nothing on earth but their own pockets and
bellies, are allowed by the Government of this land to send ships loaded
with human beings to sea in such a state that it almost calls for the
performance of a miracle to secure their safe arriv