t there was no longer any danger of their perishing, when I
got them below into the forecastle, and left them to rest undisturbed.
The next day they were all so far recovered as to be able to move about
and even to climb on deck out of the forecastle, unaided; and on the
second day seven of them reported themselves fit for such light duty as
taking a trick at the wheel, and so on. Among the first to recover were
the cook and steward, who at once assumed their proper duties, much to
my satisfaction; for necessary as it had hitherto been for me to avail
myself of Miss Onslow's assistance, it went sorely against the grain for
me to see her day after day performing such mean duties as that of
cooking, and it was a great relief to me when I was able to inform her
that henceforward she would be relieved of such work.

The unexpected acquisition of these sixteen men, constituting, as they
did, a really strong crew for such a small craft as the brig, relieved
me of a very heavy load of anxiety; for now I felt that, with a tight
and seaworthy vessel under my feet, and a crew that would enable me to
handle and take care of her in any weather, there was no reason whatever
why my companion and I should not speedily reach Cape Town and the end
of our troubles. There was but one thing remaining to occasion me any
uneasiness, and that was the fact that the chronometer had run down and
stopped during the time that the brig had been drifting about, derelict,
and consequently I had no means of ascertaining my longitude--a most
awkward predicament to be in, especially when approaching a coast. But,
as though Fate were satisfied with what she had already inflicted upon
us, and had now relented so completely as to be eager to hasten our
deliverance, it happened that on the very day when my new crew reported
themselves--as fit for duty, we fell in with a homeward-bound China
clipper, from the skipper of whom I obtained our longitude, and was thus
enabled to start the chronometer again. The information thus afforded
me showed that we were within two hundred and forty miles of the South
African capital, or little more than twenty-four hours' run if the wind
would but chop round and come fair for us.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

THE CREW TAKE POSSESSION OF THE BRIG.

The process of nursing the rescued men back to health and strength had
afforded me an opportunity to learn their story, which, briefly, was to
the effect that their ship, the _Black