of 'em told me 'e thinks it was young
Boswell. It was too dark to see 'is face, but 'is figure was that of a
stout young fellow."

"A stout young fellow," muttered the captain, as the mate hurried
forward. "Can it have been Glynn?" His heart sank within him at the
thought, and he would have given worlds at that moment, had he possessed
them, to have heard the voice of our hero, whom, almost unwittingly, he
had begun to love with all the affection of a father. While he stood
gazing up at the rigging, attempting to pierce the thick darkness, he
felt his sleeve plucked, and, looking down, observed Ailie at his side.

"My child," he cried, grasping her by the arm convulsively, "_you_ here!
How came you to leave your cabin, dear? Go down, go down; you don't
know the danger you run. Stay--I will help you. If one of those seas
comes on board it would carry you overboard like a fleck of foam."

"I didn't know there was much danger, papa. Glynn told me there
wasn't," she replied, as her father sprang with her to the
companion-ladder.

"How? when? where, child? Did Glynn speak to you within the last ten
minutes?"

"Yes; he looked down the hatch just as I was coming up, and told me not
to be afraid, and said I must go below, and not think of coming on deck;
but I heard a shriek, papa, and feared something had happened, so I came
to ask what it was. I hope no one is hurt."

"My darling Ailie," replied the captain, in an agitated voice, "go down
to your berth, and pray for us just now. There is not _much_ danger;
but in all times of danger, whether great or slight, we should pray to
Our Father in Heaven, for we never know what a day or an hour may bring
forth. I will speak to you about everything to-morrow; to-night I must
be on deck."

He kissed her forehead, pushed her gently into the cabin, shut the door,
and, coming on deck, fastened the companion-hatch firmly down.

In a short time the ship was prepared to face the worst. The topsails
were close-reefed; the topgallant-masts sent down on deck; the spanker
and jib were furled, and, soon after, the mainsail and foresail were
also furled. The boats were taken in and secured on deck, and the ship
went a little more easily through the raging sea; but as the violence of
the gale increased, sail had to be further reduced, and at
last everything was taken in except the main spencer and
foretopmast-staysail.

"I wouldn't mind this much," said the captain, as he a