r Grace, there are plenty of ships betwixt this Channel and
Australia--plenty hard by, rolling up Channel, and willing to land us
for a few sovereigns, would their steersmen only shift their helm and
approach within hail."

But though there might be truth in this for aught I knew, it was a
thing easier to say than to mean, as I felt when I cast my eyes upon
the dark-green, frothing waters, still shrouded to within a mile or so
past the ship by the damp and dirty grey of the now fast expiring gale
that had plunged us into this miserable situation. There was nothing
to be seen but the _Carthusian_ rolling solemnly and grandly to
windward, and the glancing of white heads of foam arching out of the
thickness and running sullenly, but with weight too, along the course
of the wind.

"Will not that ship put into an English port before she leaves for
good?" asked Grace.

"She _has_ left for good, miss," answered Caudel. "There's no English
port for her unless she ups hellum and tries back'ards again."

"Where are we, then?" cried Grace, with a wild stare over the lee rail.

"In what they call the Chops, miss," replied Caudel.

"In the mouth of the English Channel," I explained.

"I calculate, Mr. Barclay," said Caudel, "that our drift's been all
three mile an hour since, it first came on to blow. The wind's hung
about nothe, nothe-east, and I don't think it's shifted a point since
it first busted down upon us."

"You seriously believe, Caudel, that you can make the land, seeing
where we are, in this leaky, mast-wrecked craft?"

"Ay, sir, as easy as lighting a pipe."

"For heaven's sake, consider before it is too late! There's no
obligation to stick to the vessel. Give us time to get out of her and
you have my consent to let her go," and I pointed downwards.

"No, sir, that's not to be the _Spitfire's_ road. The weather's going
to come settled, and I trust that when you get ashore ye'll find the
yacht safe and snug in harbour, and me in readiness to wait upon your
honour's further commands."

I could see in his face, and by the looks he directed at his mates who
stood within ear-shot of us, that his mind was made up. Argument or
remonstrance would have been idle. He and the others were sailors, and
must be allowed to know what they were about when their resolution
dealt with their own calling. No doubt, if fine weather followed this
gloom and wind, the danger of navigating the yacht would be trifling.
The