and I was very certain
that Captain Rover would do his best to support us. I had more of
Aveline's society than I had enjoyed for some time, for Sir Thomas was
greatly taken up with his son. Poor Richard was evidently the worse for
being out on the river at night, and his father, I think, now for the
first time saw his very great danger. Aveline watched the tall ship
which followed us with great interest, when I told her about the poor
people who, I believed, were on board, and gave her an account of the
singular man who commanded the vessel.

At length we were at sea, but the wind was so light that we made but
little way. The night was very dark, and during it we lost sight of the
_Falcon_. After Aveline had retired to her cabin, I observed that the
captain called all the crew on deck, and ordered them to take in some of
the sails and to furl the rest. I inquired why he did this.

"Because I don't like the look of the weather, Master Verner," he
answered. "I may be mistaken, and we may not have a breath of wind all
night, and if so, our sails will do us no good; whereas, if the gale
comes down upon us, it will be well they are all snugly furled."

I agreed with him; and, with the expectation of what might occur, I
could not bring myself to lie down in my cabin. I consequently
continued walking the deck with him. Now he stopped and looked out over
the ship's side, peering, as it were, into the darkness; now, without
making any remark, he continued his walk. He was at no time very
communicative, being a man rather of action than of words. He was,
however, brave and true-hearted, and I felt satisfied that in no safer
hands could our lives be placed. We had not taken many turns when I
felt a strong, damp wind in my face, which rapidly increased. In a
short time the dark water was lighted up with the foam-crested seas,
which rose out of its hitherto mirror-like surface. The wind howled and
whistled through the rigging, the yards creaked, stray ropes lashed
about, and the foam began to fly over the decks.

The vessel, like a horse to which the spur has been given, dashed
onwards, plunging and leaping, as it were, over the fast rising waves.
The noise I have described increased as the vessel began to plunge more
and more furiously. At first, only masses of spray broke over her; but
now the seas themselves dashed upwards and washed over our deck. I had
gone down below to put on my sea-coat, when I heard Sir