but it ain't quite safe with those gentlemen there
gathering together ahead, like a mass meeting in Faneuil Hall."

"Oh, never mind the clouds," rejoined the delighted skipper, whose
thoughts were filled with the fond belief that the _Susan Jane_ would
make the most rapid run across the herring-pond ever known for a
sailing-ship. "Guess we'll beat the _Scotia_, if we go on like this."

"Yes, if we don't carry away anything!" interposed the mate cautiously.

"Oh, nonsense, Seth! We've got a smart crew, and can take in sail when
it's wanted! How's your patient getting on?" continued the skipper,
turning to Mr Rawlings, who had come up, the boy being in a profound
sleep.

"Well, I hope," he answered; "he is resting very tranquilly."

"That means, I suppose, that he's all right, and having a good caulk in
my cot."

"Exactly so, Cap'en; and when he wakes by and by, I hope he'll be
himself again."

"That's good news! Did he tell you who he was before he dropped to
sleep?"

"No," answered Mr Rawlings, "he did not speak."

"Not speak!" said the captain. "Why didn't he?"

"He couldn't," replied the other. "Whether from the cut on his
forehead, or what, I can't tell; but he has had such a shock that his
nerves seem paralysed. You noticed his eyes, didn't you?"

"Yes," said the captain, "but I thought that was from fright or a sort
of startled awe, which would soon go off. I'm sorry I didn't have a
look at those spars before we cast them off; we might have learned the
name of the ship to which he belonged. Don't you think, Seth, though,
that he will recover his speech and be able to tell us something?"

"Certainly, Cap'en, as Mr Rawlings says, I believe he'll wake up all
right."

"Well, then, we'd better go below for breakfast now--here's the steward
coming to call us. Davitt can take charge of the deck,"--hailing the
second mate as he spoke, and telling him to "keep his weather-eye open,
and call him immediately should any change occur, but not to reduce sail
on any account."

"I wouldn't have given him that order, if I were you, Cap'en," said the
mate, as they went down the companion together.

"Oh, Davitt isn't a fool," replied the skipper lightly; and the two
entered the cuddy together, where they were welcomed by a hospitably
spread table that spoke well for the cook's culinary skill.

"Josh is a splendid chap for fixing up things," said the skipper
heartily, as he popped a portion of a capital s