ge, and get your chest over the side as
quickly as possible. If you are smart you may get aboard your new ship
in time to take an observation at noon and check your own reckoning by
ours." Then, as I rushed off to the after-house, where we apprentices
were berthed, he turned to Polson and proceeded to question him further
relative to the extraordinary series of fatalities that had occurred on
board the _Mercury_.

CHAPTER TWO.

THE SHADOW OF COMING EVENTS.

It took me less than ten minutes to bundle my traps into the waiting
boat alongside; and then, having already said goodbye to my shipmates in
the apprentices' berth, I stepped up to the skipper and chief mate to
say the same, and to thank the former for giving me this splendid
chance. He was very kind in bidding me farewell; told me I had given
him every satisfaction while I had been with him; gave me a few words of
caution and advice; and wound up by saying:

"The boatswain, here, tells me that the chronometer aboard the _Mercury_
has unfortunately been allowed to run down; when, therefore, you get
aboard, and have taken your meridian altitude, you had better wind the
chronometer and then set it to Greenwich time, which I will give you;
after which you should experience no difficulty in finding your way to
Sydney, to which port I wish you a prosperous and pleasant voyage. Of
course I quite reckon upon arriving two or three weeks ahead of you; but
unless you have an exceptionally protracted passage you ought to arrive
in good time to return home with us. Unless, therefore, the _Mercury's_
agent in Sydney wishes you to return to England in the ship, you had
better make your way to Melbourne as soon as you have settled up, and go
back with us."

I thanked him for the kindly send-off that he was giving me, and then,
after a final shake of the hand, followed Polson down the side, seated
myself in the stern-sheets, and--the boatswain pulling stroke while the
other three oarsmen shifted one thwart forward--shoved off, the crew and
passengers of the _Salamis_ giving me a little cheer to speed me on my
way. The cheer was at once vociferously responded to by the people
crowding the _Mercury's_ rail. No doubt they were greatly relieved at
the thought that there was to be no more aimless drifting about the
ocean for them, but that at last they were to find themselves again
heading intelligently toward their port of destination.

By the time that I had arrived