e rolling on over the long heaving seas of the Atlantic.
The sky was overcast, but ever and anon a gleam of light burst forth
amid the clouds, playing on the foaming crest of a wave. It was blowing
hard, but had evidently been blowing much harder, of which fact the
condition of the Indiaman gave evidence. A portion of the starboard
bulwarks were stove in, one of her quarter boats was shattered, and
other slight damages were visible.

"We must be ready for him, sir, at all events," said the first officer,
looking at his watch. "It is not far off noon now."

"Tell Oliver to bring me my sextant," said the captain, as the mate
descended from the poop into his cabin.

Mr Thudicumb soon returned, bringing his own instrument, and followed
by a boy with the captain's. Continuing their walk, they looked
anxiously every now and then at the spot in the heavens where they
expected the sun to appear. They were accompanied by one who seemed to
take as much interest as they did in what was going forward. When they
turned, he turned; when they looked up at the sky, he looked up also;
balancing himself when the ship rolled as they did, by leaning over to
the opposite direction to which she was heeling. He, however, could not
have afforded them any assistance in their observation, for though his
eye and the expression of his countenance exhibited much sagacity, he
was of the canine species--a large dog--a magnificent-looking fellow,
who could, the crew declared, for he was a great favourite with them, do
everything but talk--and, they might have added, take a meridional
observation, or a lunar.

Mr Thudicumb again looked at his watch. "There he is, sir," he
exclaimed at length.

He and the captain stopped in their walk; their sextants were quickly at
their eyes; and there they stood, their feet planted firmly on the
heaving deck, in an attitude long practice alone could have enabled them
to maintain. A clear space was seen in the sky, increasing rapidly, and
yet not altogether blue, but the vapour which drove across it was not
sufficiently thick to prevent the sun's rays descending upon the sea.

"She has dipped, sir," said the first officer.

"She has," observed the captain.

The sun's elevation was read off on the index, and the instruments were
returned to their cases. The calculation was very quickly worked out on
a scrap of card.

"Make it noon, Mr Thudicumb," said the captain, as, returning the case
to the youn