't; and then, after trying for half an hour, he said
mine was a wretchedly poor weak glass, and came down again. You see,
the skipper and old Staples were mad about losing the schooner, and just
wild about leaving the boat behind and going on so far before coming
back to pick you up.

"Of course, they couldn't tell that the wind would drop so suddenly,"
said Mark. "Well, you caught sight of us at last?"

"Look here, friend of my boyhood, do you want to finish this authentic
narrative?"

"No, I don't. Go on."

"Then hold your tongue. I do like that, you saying what a tongue I've
got. Spikes and spun yarn! It's about nothing to yours. There, I
won't keep you longer in suspense, as my old aunt used to say. After
the crew had whistled the air quite full, it all condensed and turned
into a breeze--on the third evening, I think it was, and I mast-headed
myself again, and there was another man sent up to the fore-masthead."

"I beg your pardon," said Mark, with a feeble smile upon his thin face.

"I said another man was sent up to look-out. I'm afraid that the
exposure and fasting have affected your hearing a little, my son. But
to go back to our muttons, as the French say. The breeze came on just
right from the south-east, and we soon had plenty of sail on, and made
some good big tacks; but it came on dark without our having got a squint
of you; and that night once more my supper spoilt my rest, and every one
else's disagreed with him. For the crew were on deck all night, walking
about uncomfortable, and the worst of it was old Whitney's prescriptions
didn't do any one a bit of good."

"Of course," said Mark, thoughtfully. "It must have been a terrible
time of anxiety for the officers."

"Oh, I don't know," said Bob, coolly. "It was a nuisance, for that
first cutter was always considered our fastest boat. Well, to proceed.
Next day, when the sun was hot enough to fry salt junk, someone caught
sight of the boat lying like a speck on the glittering water."

"Who did?" cried Mark, eagerly.

"Who did?" replied Bob, thoughtfully. "Let me see. I half--Dear me
now, who--How strange! It must have been somebody, because the ship's
head was altered, and--Now how curious it is that I can't think who it
was sighted the boat!"

"I know," said Mark. "You did, Bob."

"Oh, I say, doctor!"

"Did I?" said that young gentleman, scratching his head. "Well, now you
say so, I think it was Robert Howlett, Esquire