we might lose our bearings altogether."

"I do not think we can do that. In the first place, you see, there is
the breeze that brought down the fog to guide us, and in the second the
guns of the ship. We cannot go far wrong with them; and I should say
that when we once get out as far as we believe the headland to lie, the
best thing will be to steer direct for the ship. The danger in that way
would certainly be far less than it is from rocks and savages if we keep
near the shore."

"I think you are right. We will row straight out against the wind for a
quarter of an hour, that will take us clear of the headland, and we will
then shape our course direct for the guns."

CHAPTER VI.

PUTTING IN THE REFIT.

The boat rowed steadily in the course that was believed would take them
straight out to sea, the mate listening attentively for the sound of the
distant guns. The reports came up every two or three minutes, their
sound muffled by the fog. "Sure it's mighty difficult to tell where the
sound comes from, but I think it is well over there on our beam. Do not
you think so?" the mate asked Mr. Atherton.

"I think so; yes, I feel sure that we are rowing nearly due south. Even
without the sound of the guns I should feel sure that we cannot at
present be far out of that course. I noticed that as we came along you
hardly had to use any helm, and that the strength on both sides was very
evenly balanced. So that starting out as we did from the shore, we must
be travelling pretty straight. Of course in the long run we should be
sure to sweep round one way or the other and lose our bearings
altogether were it not for the guns. Wilfrid, we will appoint you
time-keeper."

"What am I to keep time of, Mr. Atherton?"

"You are to keep time of the guns. I think they are firing about every
three minutes, but you had better time the first two or three. If you
find them three minutes apart, it will be your duty a quarter of a
minute before the gun is due to say in a loud voice 'Stop,' then all
conversation is to cease till we hear the report. Unless we are all
silent and listening, it is very difficult to judge the exact
direction from which the sound comes, and it is important to keep as
straight a line as we can. There is the gun now, begin to count."

[Illustration: A DOZEN SPEARS STRUCK THE WATER ROUND HER

_Page 103_]

"I think we can turn our head in that direction now," the mate said. "It
is just twenty minutes si