, we have a good course from
now out. I'll take the wheel, and you go lie down."

But Nat would not. He insisted on remaining in the pilot-house until
morning, and when daylight came, he saw that the other vessed was not
far from them, both ships being headed for the same harbor. The other
ship was the _Spray_, of much smaller tonnage than the _Mermaid_.

"She must have turned back after meeting us," thought Nat, "as she was
headed in the opposite direction when we met near the reef."

CHAPTER XIX

THE ACCUSATION

Captain Turton decided to lay over for some hours, as, during the
storm, his vessel had suffered some minor damage, which he wanted
repaired.

"How is Mr. Weatherby?" asked Nat, as soon as there was no longer any
need of him remaining in the pilot-house.

"He is much better this morning," replied the commander, "but he is
still quite weak, and will probably stay in his bunk all day. He says
he would like to see you."

"I'll go at once."

"Hadn't you better get your breakfast?"

"No, that can wait."

"But you have been on duty a long while, and it was a great strain on
you."

"I know it was, captain, but I'm so glad I brought the ship through
safely, that I'd be willing to go without breakfast and sleep for a
long time yet."

"You are a plucky lad, and I wish more like you were learning to be
pilots."

Nat found Mr. Weatherby quite ill, but, in spite of that, the pilot
warmly congratulated his _protege_ on the nerve he had displayed
during the storm.

"You have proved your worth, Nat," said Mr. Weatherby, "and I am proud
of my pupil."

Nat turned in for a sleep, soon after breakfast. There was little for
the crew of the _Mermaid_ to do while the repairs were being made, and
those passengers who were not yet at their destination strolled about
the town while waiting for the trip to be resumed.

The vessel that Nat had brought so skilfully through the storm, which
had ceased with the first appearance of dawn, was tied at the same
dock as that at which was the steamer they had met near the reef. One
was on one side, and one on the other, and when the dock between the
ships was not occupied by wagons and trucks, laden with freight, Nat
could look across and see the crew of the other steamer, the _Spray_,
busily rearranging the cargo that had shifted during the storm. She
was a freighter, but smaller than the _Jessie Drew_.

The appearance of one lad in the crew of the _Spray_ attra