elf, and then he made it keep up its
pace to please him; so, as the wind has chosen to blow us along at its
own sweet will all this time, it shall now drive the ship at my
pleasure. What do you say, Master Tom, eh?"

"I say it's a very good plan, captain," I replied laughing.

"Well, my boy, I'll tell you of another good plan, and that is to go
below and turn in, as I purpose doing. Mr Marline," added the captain
to the first mate, "please take the first watch. I'll relieve you at
midnight; I don't think there'll be any change before then."

With these words, Captain Miles, who had been on deck almost
continuously now for two days and nights, went down to the cabin to have
a couple of hours of much-needed repose; and taking his hint as an
order, good-humouredly as it was spoken, I followed him at once.

Nor was I anything loth either to go to my bunk; for I had eaten a
hearty dinner which made me feel drowsy. After I had turned in, too,
there being no excitement to keep me awake, and the ship being quite
safe, there being now every prospect of the gale coming soon to an end,
I slept like a top--Harry the steward having to wake me again next
morning to tell me that breakfast was ready, and coming twice to shake
my bunk before I would turn out.

When I subsequently went on deck, I could soon see that the weather had
altered for the better.

Although the sea was still rough, the clouds had cleared away from the
sky entirely, not a speck of hazy vapour being discernible anywhere,
while the sun was shining down brightly and warmly, enlivening the whole
scene around and making the ocean, in spite of its still rough
condition, almost look pleasant; the white wreaths of spray, broken-off
by the wind from the tops of the waves, glistening with the prismatic
hues of the rainbow as they were tossed up in the air on clashing billow
meeting billow.

On board the ship, also, matters had considerably improved, only two men
being required at the helm in place of four, for the vessel was ever so
much more easy to steer; and, I could see preparations being made in the
waist for bending a new main-topsail and mizzen staysail in place of
those that had been blown away when we were in the vortex of the
hurricane.

It was a difficult job getting the remains of the old main-topsail off
the yard, the wind blowing still with great force and the men having to
hold on with all their might. But, after an hour's labour, the task was