ow.
Sometimes I have wished that the dear ones at home would not be so
unhappy when they hear that we are lost; and then again I should be very
sorry if they did not love me, I own. I only hope that they may not
hear of the loss of the prize."

When they were able to observe the state of things on board they
discovered that the brig was in a very bad state of discipline. The
crew were a worthless set of vagabonds, the scum of some Spanish port,
pirates, slavers, and cut-throats of all descriptions. The officers
tried to get obeyed but could not, and at last seemed to give it up as a
bad job; some of them, indeed, were very little better than the men.
The brig consequently was constantly getting into irons or being taken
aback by careless steering, and it was only wonderful that she had got
thus far on her voyage without a serious accident. The captain and
first lieutenant, though pleasing in their manners, were evidently not
much of seamen, and took their observations in a very careless way.
Hemming, on questioning them, found that they had not been to sea for a
long time, and, had they not been compelled, would not have come now.
They seemed fully aware that things were not as they should be; but they
shrugged their shoulders, and said that they could not help it. By this
time Hemming, as well as the rest of the people, with the exception of
two poor fellows, had almost recovered their strength. The weather had
hitherto been fine, but it came on very thick one night, and began to
blow hard; but the wind was fair, and the captain, who was in a hurry to
get over his voyage, continued to carry on a press of sail. Lieutenant
Hemming and the two midshipmen, who did not like the look of things,
with the rest of the English, continued on deck.

"Are you certain that you know your exact position?" asked Hemming of
the first lieutenant.

He was not indignant, but he laughed and said that the master was a good
navigator, and that he must be right; Hemming had formed a different
opinion. An hour passed. Suddenly, Jack and Adair, who were walking
together, were startled by a cry from the lookout forward, which they
guessed was, as it proved, "Breakers ahead." They, with Hemming, ran
forward to ascertain the state of things, and there they made out
through the darkness on the port bow amass of white breakers. No sooner
did Hemming see them than he rushed aft to put the helm to port, while
the officers on deck were giv