bows had been carried away, and the
deck was swept clear of every movable object.

One watch was below, the men of the other were for the most part
gathered aft, and lashed to belaying pins. Fairclough was standing
near the wheel. With some difficulty, Harry made his way to him.

"Not much change since last night," he said. "I feel quite ashamed
of myself, for having been sleeping in my berth while you have all
been exposed to this gale."

"There has not been much to do," the commander said. "In fact,
there is nothing to be done, except to keep her as much as we dare
from running straight before the wind. We have not had much success
that way for, as you see, the tumble of water shows that we are
still but a short distance from the centre of the gale. I sent the
starboard watch below at four bells and, in a few minutes, we shall
be relieved. Hardy wanted to stay with me, but I would not have it.

"The cook has managed, somehow, to boil some water, and served a
pannikin of coffee to all hands, just before the watch turned in;
and he has sent word that he will have some more ready, by the time
they come up again."

He looked at his watch, and called out, "four bells."

One of the men made his way to the bell, with alacrity. The watch
below did not come up, for a few minutes, as they waited to drink
their coffee. As soon as they appeared, the men on deck went below.

"All the better for your sleep, Mr. Hardy?" Fairclough asked, as
the other joined him.

"Very much better, sir. I think the cook ought to have a medal. The
cup of coffee before we turned in, and that we have just drunk,
have made new men of us."

"You will call me, instantly, if there is any change, Mr. Hardy.

"Mr. Eden, you had better come with us. The coffee will be ready,
in my cabin."

There was no possibility of sitting at the table. But, sitting down
on the floor to leeward, and holding a mug in one hand and a
biscuit in the other, they managed, with some difficulty, to
dispose of the meal. Then Fairclough, putting on some dry clothes,
threw himself on his bunk. The midshipman retired to his own cabin,
and Harry went on deck.

"How are we heading, Mr. Hardy?" he shouted, when he joined the
lieutenant.

"At the present moment, we are running nearly due east but, as we
have been round the compass, several times, since the gale struck
us, there is no means of saying, with anything like certainty,
where our position is. But I was talking