ving great masses of chill,
wet fog along before it of so dense a character that it was scarcely
possible to make out the foremast from the head of the poop-ladder.
Altogether it threatened to be a distinctly unpleasant night for the
unfortunate men whose duty it would be to keep a look-out through the
hours of darkness. Carter, in a thick pilot-cloth jacket, was walking
to and fro on the poop, with a short pipe stuck in the corner of his
mouth, when I joined him.

"Hullo, Carter," I said, "this is a change of weather with a vengeance!
When did it happen?"

"Why," answered Carter, "the fog closed in upon us just after sunset,
the same as it has done every night since we've been here; but the
breeze has only sprung up within the last half-hour. Looks as though
'twas going to freshen too."

"So I think," said I. "How is it coming? Broad off the starboard bow,
isn't it?"

"Yes; about that," agreed Carter.

"And the tide is rising, is it not?" I continued, the freshening breeze
having suggested an idea to me which I in turn wished to suggest to my
companion.

"Ay, risin' fast," answered he. "It'll be high-water about midnight, I
reckon."

"Just so," I agreed. The idea which I wished to suggest to him had
clearly not yet dawned upon him--although it ought to have done so
without any need of a hint from me,--so, without further beating about
the bush, I said:

"Now, don't you think, Carter, that, with this nice little breeze
blowing from precisely the right direction, it would be quite worth
while to loose and set the square canvas and--"

"Throw it all aback," he cut in as at last he caught my idea. "Why, of
course I do, Mr Grenvile, and thank'e for the hint. It'd be a precious
sight more helpful than the kedge, and I'll have it done at once." And
he started to go forward to call the men.

"What about your cables?" said I. "Have you got them bent and an anchor
ready to let go if she should happen to back off the bank?"

"No," said he, coming to a halt again. "We've been so busy with one
thing and another, you know. But I'll have it done as soon as we've got
the canvas on her."

"Better do that first, hadn't you?" I suggested. "I wouldn't trust the
kedge to hold her in a breeze with all her square canvas set."

"N-o, perhaps not," he agreed dubiously. "Well, then, I'll get the port
cable bent and the anchor a-cockbill ready for lettin' go before
touchin' the canvas. How would that be?"

"M