ough,"
he added, glancing round.

Still he gave no orders to heave the lead, as the late captain had
advised. I knew well enough that to remind him would only make him less
likely to do it, so I said nothing, though I kept looking over into the
water to see if there was any change of colour which might be produced
by our getting nearer the land. Now again came one of those sullen
flaps of the sails, showing that though we might seem to be at rest, the
vessel was occasionally moved by no gentle force; and I could
distinguish, as I looked eastward, a smooth undulation which seemed
rolling away in that direction. Still the sky remained obscured as
before, and a gauze-like mist hung over the ocean. The atmosphere felt
hotter and more oppressive than ever. The passengers remained on deck,
for the cabins were almost unbearable. The ladies were trying to read
or work, but Kate alone continued to ply her active fingers. Miss
Rowley scarcely turned a page, while little Bella kept looking with her
large blue eyes at poor Natty, who sat with his head resting on his
hands, utterly unable to recover himself. As I looked over the side I
observed that the undulations I have spoken of became more and more
frequent, on each occasion, as they passed, giving the brig a slow
shake, and making the sails flap loudly as before. The crew were
talking together, and, led by old Barker, were ranging the cable for
anchoring, Mr Kydd having disappeared below. Suddenly he returned on
deck.

"Who ordered you to do that?" he exclaimed in an angry tone. "Did I
tell you I was going to bring the ship to an anchor?"

"No, sir," answered the boatswain; "but any one who is acquainted with
these parts must know that it is the only thing to be done to save the
brig and our lives. For who can tell that we may not be ashore any
moment!"

"You are a mutinous rascal," exclaimed Kydd. "I will not allow the brig
to be brought to an anchor till I see fit. We are fifty miles off the
coast, and more than that, perhaps."

"What, with fifty fathom only under our keel!" exclaimed the boatswain.
"What is the meaning, too, of these breakers away in the south-east?
Mr Kydd, we must anchor, and you ought to know it."

I looked out in the direction towards which the boatswain pointed. The
sun was already sinking into the ocean, and his rays lighted up a line
of foam, or what looked like it, in the south-east.

Kydd, on the boatswain's remark, broke out