when day broke, to
find that they were still off the mountain which they fancied they must
have left behind. Great, moreover, was their alarm as they thought of
the piratical natives; and, albeit they laboured hard all that day and
all that night to make sail, when the sun rose next morning--it was
Saturday--the mountain, from which they were so anxious to escape, was
still near at hand. All on board expressed their alarm on discovering
that the mariners deemed their position perilous; and the Earl, on
learning how matters stood, appeared on deck, and summoned the master of
the ship.

'In wonder's name, skipper,' said he, sternly, 'how happens this?'

'In truth, my lord earl,' replied the skipper, much perplexed, 'I cannot
tell how it happens; but this I know, that we all run great risk of our
lives.'

'In what way?'

'From the Saracens of Barbary, who are cruel and savage, and who are as
likely as not to come down in swarms and attack us.'

The idea of captivity and chains occurred to every one who listened, and
even the Earl changed countenance. At that moment, however, one of the
chaplains stepped forward. He was a discreet churchman, and his words
were ever treated with high respect.

'My lord earl and gentlemen,' said the chaplain; 'I never remember any
distress in our parish, either from too much abundance or from want of
rain, or from any other plague, but that God delivered us from it, and
caused everything to happen as well as could have been wished, when a
procession had been made three times with devotion on a Saturday.'

'Wherefore,' suggested the Earl, 'you would have us do likewise, as
deeming the ceremony likely to deliver us from our peril?'

'Even so,' continued the churchman. 'I recommend, noble Earl, that, as
this day is Saturday, we instantly commence walking in procession round
the masts of the ship.'

'By all means,' replied the Earl, 'let us forthwith walk in procession
as you recommend. Worse than foolish would it be on our parts to neglect
such a ceremony. A simple remedy, on my faith, for such an evil.'

Accordingly, the skipper issued orders through the ship; and all on
board were assembled on deck, and, headed by the priests, solemnly
walked in procession round the masts, singing as they walked; and,
however it came to pass, the ceremony seemed to have the effect which
the chaplain had prognosticated. From that moment everything went
smoothly. Almost immediately afterwards they l