a
strong fancy for a rasher of bacon, which delicacy seemed also to
commend itself to my companion. I therefore looked about for the
lazarette hatch, which I discovered underneath a mat at the foot of the
companion ladder, and was soon overhauling the contents of the
storehouse. The craft proved to be abundantly stocked with excellent
provisions, among which I discovered an open cask nearly full of smoked
hams, one of which I at once appropriated; and half an hour later found
the Indian judge's daughter and myself seated before a most appetising
breakfast.

And, as we ate, we talked--talked of what we were now to do. My
companion seemed to be under the impression that the discovery of this
derelict brig would in some way alter all our arrangements; but I had no
difficulty in demonstrating to her that our object--the making of our
way to some civilised port from which we could make a fresh start for
Calcutta--still remained the same, the only difference being that
whereas on the previous day we had possessed only an open boat, and were
starving, we now had a vessel under our feet that, if staunch, would
prove far safer and more comfortable than the boat, while we also
possessed food in abundance. But, as I pointed out to her, there was a
certain price to pay for these advantages, namely, the greatly-increased
labour of handling the brig, as compared with the boat; and I thought it
advisable to make the young lady understand at once that I should from
time to time require her assistance. But I presently discovered that
there was no need for me to dwell upon this point; she quickly informed
me that she had already planned for herself the performance of what
might be called the "domestic" part of the work, such as the preparation
of meals, and so on; while she also expressed her perfect readiness to
steer, when required, or in any other way assist me, so far as she
could. And here I could not avoid being impressed afresh with the
extraordinary change that misfortune had wrought in this girl; for
whereas while on board the _City of Cawnpore_ she had maintained a
demeanour of haughty and repellent reserve that was almost insolent, she
now exhibited a gentle submissiveness and amiability of manner, with a
quiet, steadfast courage under circumstances, of peculiar and terrible
hardship and privation for a gently-nurtured woman, that, conjoined with
her exceptional beauty of face and form, exercised a fascination upon me
s