the anchor watch seemed to be the only obstacle in his way.
He began to experiment with the falls. Casting off one of them, he
carefully let the rope slip over the cleat till he had lowered the bow
of the cutter about two feet. He repeated the operation upon the stern
fall. He let off the rope so gradually that the noise did not attract
the attention of any of the watch.

Five bells struck, and the officer descended to the steerage. While he
was absent, Clyde dropped each end of the boat about four feet more,
and then coiled himself away until the officer had returned to his
station. But it was nearly daylight, and he was compelled to hurry on
with his work. Little by little he let out the falls, till the fourth
cutter floated in the water. When the officer went below, at six
bells, he climbed upon the rail, and slid down on the bow fall into
the boat. Casting off the falls, he pushed the cutter astern of the
ship, and for the first time began to feel as though he were free. He
was afraid to use an oar, lest the noise should attract the attention
of the watch on deck. He felt that he had managed his escape with
exceeding cleverness, and was unwilling to risk anything now in the
moment of success. The wind carried the boat clear of the ship, and
he lay down in the stern sheets, so that if the officer on the
quarter-deck discovered the cutter, he might suppose no one was in
her.

He had occupied this position but a moment before he heard a rushing
noise near him, and, raising his head, discovered a small schooner,
under full sail, headed directly upon him. He had hardly time to stand
up before the bow of the vessel was within his reach.

"Hallo!" shouted he, in terror, for the thought of being carried under
the keel of the schooner was appalling.

But the cutter was crowded aside by the vessel, and Clyde sprang upon
her deck, while his boat went astern of her.

Too late, the schooner luffed up, and Clyde seated himself on the rail
to catch his breath. Two men came to him, and spoke in Norwegian.

"I speak English," replied Clyde.

"You are English?" said the captain.

"Yes; I don't speak anything else."

"I speak English," replied the skipper, as he went back to the helm,
and Clyde followed him.

"Where are you bound?" asked the runaway.

"To Stockholm."

"You are Danish, I suppose."

"No, Norwegian."

"All the same."

"What shall I do with you?"

"I will go to Stockholm with you, and pay my passage,