event of a breeze springing up during the night I
should instantly become aware of it, and be ready to promptly take such
measures as might appear necessary.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

WE PICK UP A SHIPWRECKED CREW.

The night passed without incident of any sort; and when I awoke at dawn
there was still no sign of wind, for which I was thankful; for, while I
was naturally anxious to be making some progress, it was vitally
necessary to get more sail upon the brig; and this little spell of calm
weather happened most opportunely for my purpose.

A bath, an early breakfast, and I went to work once more, the bending
and setting, of the fore-topsail being my first job. I finished this
about noon, and considered that I had done very well when at dusk I had
added to my spread of canvas the standing jib and spanker.

It was a whim of Miss Onslow's that our midday meal should be tiffin;
dinner being reserved until the work of the day was over, when--as the
young lady sagely remarked--we could both spare time to do due justice
to the meal. Thus it happened, upon the day in question, that it was
quite dark when at length, having washed and polished myself up after
the labours of the day, I took my place at the table in the brig's
little cabin. It was then still flat calm; but we had scarcely finished
the meal when a little draught of air came down through the open
skylight, cool and refreshing, and at the same moment the sound of a
faint rustling of the canvas reached our ears. I at once sprang up on
deck, and found that a light air from about east-south-east had sprung
up, taking us aback and giving the brig sternway. The pressure of water
upon the rudder had forced the helm hard down, however, causing the brig
to box off; I had nothing to do, therefore, but to trim sail and steady
the helm at the proper moment, when the vessel gathered headway and
began to move quietly through the water on a southerly course,
close-hauled on the larboard tack.

I was now obliged to take the wheel; but it was not long before I made
the discovery that, under the sail now set, the brig was practically
steering herself, and by the time that I had been at the wheel half an
hour I had contrived to hit off so accurately the exact amount of
weather-helm required to keep the craft going "full-and-by," that I was
able to lash the wheel, and attend to other matters.

And there was still plenty awaiting my attention. Among other immediate
demands up