d fourteen and a
half fathoms was announced.

"Mr Hillyer," said I, "oblige me by coming down into the cabin." The
master followed me immediately. The chart was on the table in the
fore-cabin.

"We must have gone to leeward dreadfully, sir."

"Yes," replied I; "but the sweep of the currents in heavy gales is so
tremendous, and so uncertain on this coast, that I am not surprised. We
must have had a South East current, and probably we are hereabouts,"
continued I, putting the point of the compass upon the spot.

"It seems hardly possible, sir," replied the master; "but still I fear
it must be so; and if so," continued he, drawing a deep sigh, "I'm
afraid it's all over with us, without a miracle in our favour."

"I am of your opinion, Mr Hillyer; but say nothing about it," replied
I; "the gale _may_ moderate, the wind _may_ shift, and if so we _may_ be
saved. At all events, it's no use telling bad news too soon, and
therefore you'll oblige me by not saying anything on the subject. A few
hours will decide our fate."

"But the Dryad, she is good four miles to the leeward of us, and the
soundings decrease here so rapidly, that in an hour, with the sail she
is under, she must go on shore."

"She has no chance, that's certain," replied I. "I only hope it may be
so thick that we may not see her."

"Not a soul will be saved, sir," replied the master, shuddering. "I
should say it were impossible, Mr Hillyer; but we all owe Heaven a
death; and if they go first and we go after them, at all events, let us
do our duty until the time comes--but never despair. As long as there
is life, there is hope; so now let us go on deck, and put as good a face
on it as we can."

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

I returned on deck followed by the master. "The barometer is rising,"
said I aloud, to the first lieutenant; "so I presume the gale will break
about twelve o'clock."

"I am glad to hear of it, sir; for we have quite enough of it," replied
the first-lieutenant.

"Do you see the Dryad?"

"No, sir; it's quite thick again to leeward: we have not seen her these
ten minutes."

Thank God for that, thought I, for they will never see her again. "What
soundings had you last?"

"Fourteen fathoms, sir."

"I expect we shall cross the tail of the bank in much less," replied I;
"but, when once clear, we shall have sea-room."

As the captain is an oracle in times of danger, the seamen caught every
word which was uttered from my mo