would comply
with the English officer's request, though he could not be answerable
for his men."

"I will look after them," said Harry, and, calling Jacob, told him to
keep an eye on the French crew.

He sent for the Lascar boatswain, and obtained his assurance that he and
his men would remain faithful to the English. This gave him rather more
confidence.

The cabin-steward, who was among the English prisoners, came to announce
that dinner was ready. Leaving two of his best men at the helm, and
inviting the French officer to accompany him, Harry hurried into the
cuddy to snatch a few mouthfuls of food.

The passengers, who were all civilians, crowded round him eagerly asking
questions. They had kept below, afraid of the risk on deck from the
spars or blocks falling from aloft. They expressed their satisfaction
at the recapture of the ship, not appearing to be aware of the danger
she was in. Harry, taking them aside, told them that he must depend
upon their assistance should the French crew attempt to retake the ship.

"Very little chance of that," was the answer.

"It is as well to be cautious, however," he observed.

He was told that there was another passenger ill in his cabin, out of
which he had not made his appearance for several days. Harry, however,
unwilling to remain longer than was absolutely necessary from the deck,
could not then visit him.

The _Culloden_ drove before the hurricane which now blew from one
quarter, now from another. Harry had no one on whom he could depend for
keeping a correct reckoning. The binnacle had been knocked away, and
the other compasses on board were out of order. It was impossible to
ascertain in what direction the ship was driving. The _Thisbe_ was
nowhere to be seen. A leak was sprung, the pumps were manned, but the
water gained on them. The French crew threatened to mutiny, and were
with difficulty prevented from breaking into the spirit-room. By the
strictest vigilance were they alone kept in order. The Lascars,
however, who had belonged to the ship, remained faithful, and readily
obeyed Harry's commands. Day after day went by, the hurricane rather
increased than lessened. The masts went by the board, and the
_Culloden_ remained a helpless wreck on the stormy ocean. The sea
through which she was driving was but little known, but numberless
dangers, many of them as uncertain, were marked in the chart. In spite
of his anxieties, however, Harry kept