ude, rousing himself out of
abstraction.

"Matter?" repeated Zac. "Why, the wind's hauled round to the
nor'west, and the fog's goin' to lift, an' the Parson's goin' to show
her heels."

With these words, Zac hurried to the tiller, which he took from the
smiling Terry, and began to being the vessel around to run her before
the wind.

"Don't care a darn whar I go jest now," said he, "so's I on'y put a
mile or two between us and the Frenchman. Arter that we can shape our
course satisfactory."

And now the wind, which had thus turned, blew more steadily till it
became a sustained breeze of sufficient strength to carry the
schooner, with very satisfactory speed, out of the unpleasant
proximity to the Frenchman. And as it blew, the clouds lessened, and
the circle of fog which had surrounded them was every moment removed
to a greater distance, while the view over the water grew wider and
clearer. All this was inexpressibly delightful to Zac, who, as it
were, with one bound passed from the depths of despondency up to
joyousness and hope.

But suddenly a sight appeared which filled him with amazement, a
sight which attracted all his thoughts, and in an instant changed all
his feelings and plans. It was a sight which had become revealed on
the dispersion of the fog, showing itself to their wondering eyes out
there upon the sea astern, in the place where they had been looking
for that French cruiser, which Zac had feared.

No French cruiser was it that they saw, no ship of war with a hostile
flag and hostile arms, no sight of fear; but a sight full of infinite
pathos and sadness--a pitiable, a melancholy sight. It was about half
a mile behind them, for that was about the distance which they had
traversed since the wind had changed and the schooner's direction had
been altered.

It seemed at first like a black spot on the water, such as a
projection rock or a floating spar; but as the fog faded away the
object became more perceptible. Then they could see human figures,
some of whom were erect, and others lying down. They were on what
seemed to be a sort of raft, and the whole attitude of the little
group showed most plainly that they had suffered shipwreck, and were
here now floating about helplessly, and at the mercy of the tide, far
out at sea. Moreover, these had already seen the schooner, for they
were waving their arms and gesticulating wildly.

One glance was enough for both Zac and Claude, and then the
exclamati