?" said Wester, as a wave lifted the prow of the boat
and nearly sent it back on the rocks.

"I call that vewy wough," said Braintree, looking and feeling a little
uncomfortable.

"Oh, it's only the ground swell," said Gayford; "we shall soon get out
of that. Here, Bowler, old man, take an oar with Tubbs, and keep way on
while I stick up the sail. Look alive!"

With some difficulty the oars were got out, and Tubbs made to comprehend
what was expected of him. But comprehending was one thing with Tubbs,
and doing was another thing. Just as he settled down to his oar,
another wave lifted the boat and Tubbs with it, who clung wildly to the
seat with both hands, leaving his oar to its fate. Luckily, Crashford
was near enough to make a grab at it before it went, or the beginning of
the expedition might have been marked by a serious catastrophe.

The unhappy Tubbs having been shunted, Crashford took his place, and
with Bowler kept the boat's head steady till Gayford hauled up the sail,
and the "Eliza" began of her own accord to fly through the water.

At the sight of the majestic sail swelling with the wind, and still more
on perceiving a decided improvement in the pitching of the boat, the
spirits of the party rose again, and Braintree actually began to hum
"Wule Bwitannia."

The cliffs of Raveling loomed dimly out behind them, and ahead they
could just discern the faintest outline of the land of their adoption.

"Upon my word," said Bowler, "this is jolly. It's just like the real
New Swishford, isn't it, you fellows?"

"Warthah," said Braintree, "except my wifle to let fly at the seagulls
with."

"But," said Wallas, "if the wind's off the land this side, it will be
off the sea when we get over there, so I suppose it'll get rougher and
rougher the farther out we get?"

This ominous suggestion had the effect of immediately damping the
spirits of half the party, and Bowler and Gayford found it difficult to
restore confidence in the much-abused ocean. The ocean, however, went
some way to restore confidence in itself. For though it still continued
restless enough to keep Braintree and Tubbs in a state of suspended
enjoyment in the bows, it showed no signs of getting worse as it went
on.

Bowler was jubilant. With his hand on the rudder and his eye on the
compass, he kept the boat's course like a line, and fancied himself
heading due north from Sinnamary. Gayford, with the sheet in his hand,
and a careful w