porpoises, laughing heartily from time to time; and
altogether seemed so absolutely happy and free from care that Leslie,
while he could have kicked himself for being such a fool, felt quite
reassured.

At sunset, that night, the breeze still held as fresh as ever; but no
sail had yet been sighted, either meeting or overtaking the brig; a
circumstance that somewhat disconcerted Leslie, for he was aiming to
cross the equator in the longitude of 30 degrees West, at which point it
is quite usual for a number of outward and homeward-bound ships to meet;
and the _Mermaid_ was now so near that point that, with the wind holding
so fresh and steady as it did, he would not have been in the least
surprised to fall in with quite a procession of craft proceeding in
either direction. It was disappointing, this bareness of the horizon in
every direction; for he felt that his companion and charge must be
intensely anxious to exchange into something that would be taking her
either back to her home, or out to her friends; and he was keenly
desirous to relieve her anxiety at the earliest possible moment. And
yet, at the back of his mind, behind his earnestness of desire, he was
ashamed to discover that there existed a certain feeling of satisfaction
that the moment for parting with the girl was still deferred. He had
found his connection with her very pleasant--the strong and virile man
always _does_ find it pleasant to have something or somebody to protect
and be dependent upon him--she was the only intellectual companion now
left to him; and with her would go the only individual with whom he
could exchange an idea worth uttering. Yes, he admitted to himself, he
would miss her when she was gone, miss her badly; ay, and more than
badly. Well, it couldn't be helped; she must go, of course; and this
curious feeling of depression that was worrying him at the thought was
but an additional imperative reason for her departure with the least
possible delay. If by any chance her departure were to be delayed much
longer it might be that by then he would feel that he did not want to
part with her at all! He stamped his foot on the deck in impatient
anger at the novel and unpleasant turn that his thoughts were taking;
and sprang into the fore-rigging on his way to the royal-yard, to take a
last look round ere darkness fell. He soon reached his destination, and
swept the whole circle of the horizon with an eager intensity of gaze.
And so cl