eemed white to me ever after. Aye, although
born an African, his heart was truer than that of many a European, whose
complexion is only a trick of colour!

During the night we were all silent; but, when the sun rose in the east,
flooding the sea with the rosy tint of dawn, hope came back to us and
our tongues were unloosed--the more especially as the force of the waves
had considerably lessened, hardly a scrap of spray being now washed over
us, while the blows of the billows against the side of the ship were no
longer heard.

The sea really was calming down at last.

God was watching over us!

"Say, captain," said Mr Marline, who was the first to bestir himself,
"do you think there's any prospect of our righting the ship?"

The captain was asleep, I believe, for the first mate had to repeat his
question twice before he could get an answer.

"I'm sure I hope so," at last sleepily muttered Captain Miles, with a
portentous yawn--"only wait till the swell calms down and we'll see
about it."

"But it is calm now," rejoined the other.

"Then wake me again when it is calmer," replied Captain Miles; and then,
he turned on his side and proceeded with his nap as coolly as if he were
comfortably tucked up in his nice swinging cot in the cabin.

"Well!" exclaimed Mr Marline, "of all the cool, self-possessed men I
ever met in my life, you beat the lot!"

He was talking to himself, but the hands heard him, and there was a
general snigger all round, the captain's very composure having given
confidence to all. The men believed that he would not have taken things
so quietly unless he had some sure hope of our speedy release from such
a precarious position.

"He is a rare brave un," put in Moggridge. "I've sailed with him man
and boy for many a v'y'ge afore this, and I allers found him the same,
calm and plucky in danger, and keeping a stiff upper lip when in perils
that frighten other folk. Captain Miles, sir, is a man as a sailor
should be proud to sail under--that's what I says!"

"Eh, what, what?" murmured the captain, half waking up on hearing his
name spoken, and lifting his head from between his clasped hands.

"I was a-saying, sir, as how you knew what's what," replied the
boatswain, "and I don't know of any other man I'd say sich of."

"Belay that," said Captain Miles, rousing up now and rubbing his eyes.
"Ah, it's morning, I see! Well, Mr Marline, and how goes it?"

"As well as can be expected under the c