ight in preventing Mr. Higgins from shooting the
Mother Carey chickens?"

"Why, yes," replied I, "with such a _fact_ before my eyes, I should have
done the same."

Mr. Higgins not venturing to kill any of these receptacles for the souls
of departed seamen, we arrived safely at the Downs, where I gave up
charge to a river pilot, for the other vessels which Bramble and our
companions had taken charge of were all bound to the Downs, and arrived
at nearly the same time that I did, and we had agreed to embark again in
the galley, and run out in quest of the remainder of the convoy.

This we did on the following day, much to the vexation of Bessy, who
declared we only came on shore to be off again.

I ought to observe that Bessy and I had become much more intimate since
the explanation which had taken place; and although it never entered my
head that I should ever feel toward her more than as a brother to a
sister, I was pleased and soothed with the touching proofs of kindness
and commiseration which she took every opportunity of showing toward me.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

A heavy Gale, a Wreck, and a Rescue.

We had run out in our galley as far as the Start, when the appearance of
the weather became very threatening. It was just about the time of the
equinoctial gales, and there was a consultation among us whether we
should run into Torquay or return to Deal.

Bramble observed, that as the gale coming on would, in all probability,
blow for three days, he thought it was no use remaining all that time at
Torquay, where we should be put to extra expense, and that we should be
better on shore at our own homes. This remark decided the point, and
about dusk we put the boat's head along shore for up Channel. The wind
was at that time about S.S.W., but occasionally shifting a point or two.
The sky had become covered over with one black mass of clouds, which
hung down so low that they appeared almost to rest on the water; and
there was that peculiar fitful moaning which is ever the precursor of a
violent gale of wind. At nightfall we reefed our lug-sails; and, while
one sat at the helm, the rest of us lounged against the gunnel, buttoned
up in our pilot jackets; some shutting their eyes, as if to invite
sleep, others watching the waves, which now rose fast, and danced and
lapped at the weather broadside as if they would fain have entered into
the boat. But of that we had little fear; our galley was one of the
finest