less spirit than the master.

When daylight broke, the outlines of the lofty mountains of Cuba were
seen ahead, but still indistinct, and, to the ordinary eye, not to be
distinguished from a bank of clouds. Still the ship drove before the
hurricane; but, as the sun rose, the wind began greatly to decrease,
although it still blew with too much force, and the sea ran too high, to
allow the ship to be brought on a wind. She had, therefore, still to
run before it, unwilling as those on board were to approach the
dangerous coast. The sun rose as the land became more and more
distinct, but still the sea was too high to allow of jury-masts being
set up. In the mean time the spars were got ready to do so as soon as
possible.

As the wind decreased the sea went down, but by the time the ship could
be brought on a wind she was within sight of the coast, and, owing to
the eccentric course she had steered, it was difficult to say exactly
whereabouts she was, although Owen calculated that she was somewhat to
the westward of Cumberland harbour.

"We can only hope, sir, that no Spanish man-of-war or privateersman lies
anywhere inside of us, and that we shall be able to get a good offing
again before we are sighted by an enemy," observed the mate.

"I hope so," answered Owen. "What we now have to do is to set up our
jury-masts and make sail as soon as we can."

All hands were engaged in this important operation. While it was going
on, Owen occasionally took an anxious glance through his telescope
towards the land. As he did so, his eye caught sight of a sail, on
which the bright rays of the sun fell, standing out from it, and he soon
saw that she was a large ship. A friend was not to be expected from
that quarter! He made no remark, however, as all hands were working as
fast as they could.

His mate at last saw the stranger.

"What do you think of her?" asked Owen.

"No good, sir," was the answer.

"I fear not," said Owen. "All we can pray for is that a calm may come
on, till we can make sail on the ship, and then we may get away from her
during the night."

"She will be up to us long before that, sir," observed the mate, shaking
his head.

"At all events, in the mean time we will do our best," remarked Owen;
and, without taking further notice of the stranger, he continued working
away with his officers and men.

At length her jury-masts were got up, with yards across, and the
main-topgallantsail, and such ot