es; but this was apparently not the case from the superior altitude
of the main-royal yard, for presently I observed a change in the
attitude of the man up there from that of listless indifference to
awakened curiosity and interest. His gaze grew earnest and attentive;
then he shaded his eyes with his hand, and his body assumed an attitude
and expression of alertness. Long and steadily he maintained his gaze
in one fixed direction; then he glanced down on deck, and, catching
sight of me with my face upturned toward him, he hailed--

"On deck, there! There's something away out here on the starboard bow,
sir, as has the look of a boat adrift."

"How does it bear, and how far off is it?" I inquired.

"About two points on the starboard bow, and a matter of eight or ten
mile off, I should say, sir," was the reply.

"Mr Forbes," said I to the mate, who, the watch having just been
called, at this moment came on deck from his cabin, "take the glass
aloft, and see what you can make of this new wonder, if you please."

Forbes went to the companion, took the telescope out of the beckets,
slung it over his shoulders, and leisurely ascended the fore-rigging
until he reached the topmast cross-trees, in which he comfortably
settled himself preparatory to a careful inspection of the object.
Meanwhile, the other man maintained his position on the main-royal yard.

"Now then, Joe, where do you say this precious `something' of yours is?"
inquired the mate as he unslung the telescope and proceeded to adjust it
for use.

"There it is, sir," answered the man, pointing; "about a couple of
points on the starboard bow. I don't know as you'll be able to see it
from down there, Mr Forbes, but it's plain enough--"

"All right; I see it," interrupted Forbes; and he forthwith raised the
telescope to his eye, taking a prolonged and exhaustive look through it.
At length, lowering the instrument, he turned in his seat, and, looking
down upon me where I now stood, just forward of the mainmast, hailed--

"Joe is quite right, sir. There certainly _is_ something out there, but
it is fully twelve miles away, and it looks uncommonly like a boat with
a mast stepped and a sail hoisted, or a signal flying.--I can't quite
make out which--and I even fancy I can catch an occasional glimpse of
people moving about in her; but she wavers so much in the glass that I
can't be at all sure about it."

"Very well; just keep your eye on her for a moment," I