earned that the only result of the
_Cormorant's_ visit to the spot was the discovery of a considerable
quantity of wreckage and several dead bodies floating about.

As I have said, the wind began to drop late in the afternoon of our
fourth day out from Singapore, and by eight bells of the second
dog-watch we had lost steerage way. As soon as this happened the matter
was reported to Mrs Vansittart, and I enquired whether she wished the
engine to be started; but she replied that she was in no especial hurry
to reach Hong-Kong, and therefore, as there was no particular reason for
pushing on, she would not waste gasoline. The engine was therefore
permitted to remain inactive, but we furled all our light canvas, to
save wear and tear, and hauled up our courses, leaving the ship under
topsails, topgallant sails, and jib.

The fact is that none of us quite knew what to make of the weather. The
glass stood fairly high, with a rising rather than a falling tendency,
yet the sky was hazy without being exactly overcast. Nor, considering
where we were, was the weather particularly hot; the atmosphere,
however, seemed surcharged with damp, although no rain fell. With the
going down of the sun it fell exceedingly dark, for the moon was far
advanced in her last quarter, and did not rise until very late--or
rather in the early morning--while the haze was thick enough to shut out
the light of the stars effectually. The water was smooth, excepting for
a low, easterly swell to remind us of the breeze that had died away.

It chanced to be my eight hours in that night, and, as had become a
firmly-established custom on such occasions, I was dining with the
saloon party, with all of whom, excepting Julius, I was now upon
excellent terms. Mrs Vansittart had graciously listened to my
explanation of, and accepted my apologies for, the colossal liberty I
had taken in suggesting that she should be locked in her cabin on the
memorable night of the piratical attack upon us; and not only had she
freely forgiven me, but I believe that, after I had fully explained the
motives which actuated me, she felt almost inclined to admit that I was
to a certain extent justified. Possibly she would have admitted this
but for the fact that such an admission might have been subversive of
discipline. Monroe and I had always got on splendidly together; and
even the once haughty Miss Anthea had at length thawed completely, even
to the extent of singing duets