and the pulling and hauling and tugging at my heart. Never
had I been so racked and tormented, tossed to and fro, kicked here and
there, up and down. At length my good angel came to my assistance. "Do
your duty like a man," he whispered. "Don't think of consequences, what
you would like or what you wouldn't like. Find out what is right, and
do that."

I had turned in, and, with a mind much calmed, fell asleep.

"There is a strange sail on our weather-quarter, sir," said Tom Rockets,
rousing me up. "Grampus don't like her looks."

Nor did I, when a moment afterwards I stood on deck and made her out
through the pale light of a grey cold November morning. "Make all
sail!" I sung out. "If she is an enemy, the sooner we are out of the
way the better." It was blowing fresh, but I cracked on the little
schooner as much as she could carry, and away we went staggering under
it with the wind on our larboard quarter. The stranger, apparently, had
not made us out, and I was in hopes that we might escape observation.
The increased motion, I suppose, awoke the ladies, and to my surprise
before long they came on deck.

"What is the matter, Mr Hurry?" asked Mrs Tarleton. "It appeared in
the cabin as if there was a fearful gale blowing."

"You see that the weather is not so very bad," I answered evasively,
"and I am naturally anxious on your account to reach port."

I never could act the hypocrite, and the lady was not satisfied. As her
quick-sighted eye ranged round the horizon she caught sight of the
stranger.

"What is that vessel out there?" she asked.

"That I cannot exactly say, madam," I answered. "She may be a friend or
she may be a foe. Under present circumstances I think it best to avoid
her."

"If she is an American vessel her captain would never think of detaining
you; and if she is English, you at all events need not fear her," she
replied quickly.

"I would rather not run the risk of detention," said I. "It is
possible, should she be an American vessel, that her people may not
believe our story."

"Well, sir, I have no doubt that you act for the best," answered the
lady, evidently not satisfied as she saw the vessel tearing furiously
through the water.

Her niece had said nothing, but seemed rather to enjoy the rapid motion
and the fresh air.

While they were still on deck, the stranger caught sight of us and bore
up in chase. Mrs Tarleton soon discovered what had occurred, and was
consta