telescope, formed much the same opinion of the stranger.

The day wore on, and still the calm continued, so that we in no way
decreased our distance from her. Night also overtook us, while we lay
rolling away helplessly as before. The swell, however, was going down
gradually; as it did so, the brig became more steady in the water.

It was about the first hour of the morning-watch, which Peter and I were
keeping, when he asked me suddenly if I did not hear oars. I listened:
there could be no doubt about it. There was more than one boat, and the
oars were pulled pretty rapidly too. The night was not dark, though
there was no moon; but a mist floated on the surface of the water, and
served to veil it from our sight, though right overhead the stars could
still be seen glimmering faintly in the sky.

Peter instantly went and reported what he had heard to Mr Gale, who was
officer of the watch. After listening for some time he could hear no
sound, and seemed to doubt the correctness of our assertion. The boats
had probably ceased pulling, for a purpose at which we could only then
conjecture. At last the sound of the oars reached Mr Gale's ears also.

"There's something in this," he exclaimed. "Jack, go and call the
captain."

Captain Helfrich was on deck in an instant.

"The crew of some vessel which has foundered, and taken to their boats,"
suggested the mate.

"From what quarter does the sound come?" asked the captain, listening
attentively. "Visitors from the brig we saw last night," he cried out.
"Depend on it, they come to us with no good intention."

His experience in the West Indies and elsewhere had taught him to be
prepared for any such emergency as the present. He was not above being
prepared, and he knew that the greatest folly is to despise an enemy.

"Turn the hands up, Mr Gale. Get the arm-chest open, and the guns
loaded and run out. We must be ready. No noise, though: if anyone
intends to surprise us, it is as well that we should surprise them
instead."

The watch below were instantly on deck, and in a few minutes every
preparation was made for the reception of an enemy. Still we could not
see any boats, but the louder sound of oars in the rowlocks convinced us
that they were approaching. Again the sound ceased.

"They are not quite certain of our position," observed Mr Gale. "If
they were people escaping from a wreck, and not aware that a vessel is
near, they would have pulled stead