house whilst he was speaking to
Atkins. "Here I am, sir."

"Was that vessel dropping us when we passed her, or were we going ahead
of her?"

"She was running before the wind, sir, at a tangent to our course, and
more to the southwards, moving through the water quicker than we were,
until she luffed up just before that mist or fog bank shut her out from
view. But--"

"Well?"

"I think, sir," I continued, "that was done merely to speak us; and if
she bore away again, as she was probably forced to do, being at the
mercy of the gale, she must be scudding even more to the southwards,
almost due south, I should fancy, as the wind has backed again more to
the nor'ard since this."

"I fancy the same, my boy. I see you have a sailor's eye and have got
your wits about you. Quartermaster?"

"Aye, aye, sir?"

"Let her off a point or two gradually until you bring her head about
sou'-sou'-west, and keep her so."

"Aye, aye, sir," responded Atkins, easing her off as required. "Sou'-
sou'-west it shall be, sir, in a minute."

"That will bring us across her, I think," said the skipper to me. "But
we must go a little faster if we want to overtake her. What are we
doing now, eh?"

"I don't quite know, sir," I answered to this question. "I was only
just coming up on the bridge to relieve Mr Spokeshave when I sighted
the ship and have not had time to look at the indicator. I should
think, though, we're going eight or nine knots."

This didn't satisfy the skipper, so he turned to the first mate, who had
remained moodily aloof with Spokeshave at the end of the bridge.

"Mr Fosset," he sang out abruptly, "what are the engines doing?"

"About thirty revolutions, sir; half speed, as nearly as possible."

"How much are we going altogether?"

"Ten knots, with our sails," replied the other. "The wind is
freshening, too."

"So I see," said Captain Applegarth laconically.

"And it'll freshen still more by-and-bye if I'm not mistaken!"

"Yes, it looks as if we're going to have a bit of a blow. The scud is
flying all over us now that we are running before the wind. I really
think we ought to ease down, sir, for the screw races fearfully as she
dips and I'm afraid of the shaft."

"I'm responsible for that, Mr Fosset," answered the skipper as, moving
the handle of the gong on the bridge communicating with the engine-room,
he directed those in charge below to put on full speed ahead. "I never
yet abandoned a ship in