here she is, after all!"

He looked sharply down at the deck, which was occupied only by four of
the men, the skipper and Uncle Paul being in the cabin. But one of
these men was Joe Cross, and Rodd chirruped faintly to attract's the
sailor's attention.

"Make out anything, sir?"

"Come up here, Joe," replied Rodd, in a low tone, and the man sprang to
the ratlines and began rapidly to ascend till he was nearly on a level
with the occupant of the cross-trees.

"See a whale spouting, sir? I should have thought it was getting too
dark."

"No, Joe; but I have just made out the sloop with the glass."

"Nay, sir! Don't say that!" cried the man, in a startled tone.

"Take the glass, Joe. I am afraid it's true."

"Oh, murther! as Pat says," groaned the sailor, as he hurriedly adjusted
the glass and began to sweep the horizon in the direction Rodd pointed
out, a few points on the starboard bow. "Can't see nothing, sir. Were
you sure?"

"Yes, Joe; quite."

"But it's getting dark too fast, sir. I can make nothing out. If you
are right, though, she mayn't have seen us and may be out of sight again
by morning.--Ah, I've got her!"

"There, I knew I was right, Joe."

"Not quite, sir. Yes, I've got her quite plain now, but she's dying out
fast. It aren't a man-of-war. It's a two-master of some kind. A big
schooner or a brig. It's all right, sir. There's life in a mussel,
after all. My word, though, didn't it bring my heart up into my mouth!"

"Are you sure it's not a three-master, Joe?" cried Rodd joyously.

"Sartin sure, sir. Why, you talk as frightened like as we poor lads
were."

"What vessel was it, then?"

"Oh, I don't know what she was, sir. I only know what she warn't.
That's enough for us, eh, sir? I say, sir; what weather! Rather
different to what we had in the French port. Looks settled too. Nice
and cool the air feels. There, it's only fancy, but it's just as if I
could sniff the land."

"How far are we away, Joe?" asked Rodd.

"Long way, sir. But I say, Mr Rodd, sir, I wouldn't say anything down
below. It'd only skeer the lads and set them thinking all night."

"But wouldn't you say anything about having seen that ship?"

"Oh, if you like, sir. The skipper ought to know. But I can swear she
warn't a man-of-war, and that's enough for us. Oh, there is the
skipper. My word, though, you can hardly see him! Curus, isn't it, how
the mist begins to gather? Pretty good sign we