s the entrance to the gorge some fathoms
from the Durande, and quite near to the breakwater. Here, as the
Guernsey sailors say, it had _du rang_. In less than ten minutes the
sloop was withdrawn from beneath the carcase of the wreck. There was no
further danger of the funnel being caught in a trap. The tide might rise
now.

And yet Gilliatt's manner was not that of one about to take his
departure.

He stood considering the light upon the sea once more; but his thoughts
were not of starting. He was thinking of how to fix the sloop again, and
how to fix it more firmly than ever, though near to the exit from the
defile.

Up to this time he had only used the two anchors of the sloop and had
not yet employed the little anchor of the Durande, which he had found,
as will be remembered, among the breakers. This anchor had been
deposited by him in readiness for any emergency, in a corner of the
sloop, with a quantity of hawsers, and blocks of top-ropes, and his
cable, all furnished beforehand with large knots, which prevented its
dragging. He now let go this third anchor, taking care to fasten the
cable to a rope, one end of which was slung through the anchor ring,
while the other was attached to the windlass of the sloop. In this
manner he made a kind of triangular, triple anchorage, much stronger
than the moorings with two anchors. All this indicated keen anxiety, and
a redoubling of precautions. A sailor would have seen in this operation
something similar to an anchorage in bad weather, when there is fear of
a current which might carry the vessel under the wind.

The phosphorescence which he had been observing, and upon which his eye
was now fixed once more, was threatening, but serviceable at the same
time. But for it he would have been held fast locked in sleep, and
deceived by the night. The strange appearance upon the sea had awakened
him, and made things about him visible.

The light which it shed among the rocks was, indeed, ominous; but
disquieting as it appeared to be to Gilliatt, it had served to show him
the dangers of his position, and had rendered possible his operations in
extricating the sloop. Henceforth, whenever he should be able to set
sail, the vessel, with its freight of machinery, would be free.

And yet the idea of departing was further than ever from his mind. The
sloop being fixed in its new position, he went in quest of the strongest
chain which he had in his store-cavern, and attaching it to t