This was the
combined result of their feelings of disappointment with physical labor,
for they worked several hours at the oars every day, aiding the sailing
power of the boat, in the hopes of reaching the land before another gale
or storm should occur. Now, however, they began to discard the oars, and
to feel less and less courage to labor in propelling the boat.

The widow who was not a little of a philosopher and a woman of good
sound mind, determined to do something to amuse the men, and cheer them
up in their emergency; she saw how sadly they needed some such
influence, and telling her daughter of her purpose, when night again
came on she induced her to sing some of her sweetest airs with all her
power of execution, and to repeat them to the real joy and delight of
these hardy men, who at once gathered an agency from this music, and
declared it was the harbinger of good. Whether it was so in the way they
supposed or not, it certainly was a harbinger of good as it regarded its
cheering effects upon them, and their hearts were again filled with
hope, and their sinews bent once more to toil at the oars.

CHAPTER VII.

THE SEA WITCH.

WHILE those sweet notes were being uttered under these peculiar
circumstances, and the soft thrilling voice of, the English girl floated
over the sea, and the stars looked down coldly upon those wrecked
adventurers, the mate who sat at the helm was observed to be peering in
the boat's wake, as though looking for some coming object that would
soon overtake them. Leaning over the boat's stern, he placed his cars as
near the surface of the water as possible and listened. This he repeated
several times, with increased earnestness, then partially shading his
eyes with his hands, he gazed back into the dim night air with intense
interest, while the rest in the boat regarded him silently, wondering
what could be the import of his movements.

"Either there is a big fish in our wake, or I hear the ripple of a
ship's cut-water. But I cannot see hull or canvass in this darkness,"
said the mate, after a brief but searching gaze in the direction from
whence they had come.

"It cannot be that you could hear the movement of a ship upon the water,
farther than you could see her even in this light," said the mother.

"It may have been the hauling of a ship's yards, or some rickety block,
but sound I did hear that came from on ship board," said the mate, with
assurance.

"See, see," said