bered, and taking the command, issued every
subsequent order with coolness. He did not however, condescend to
praise Mr Grey, by whose promptness the ship had been saved.

For two days the ship ran on under a close reefed fore topsail. The
fore-yard had been so well fished that it stood the immense strain put
upon it, although most of the crew expected every instant to see it go.
Once more the wind moderating, the sorely battered "Druid" hauled up
again on her course. The sky, however, was obscured, and the weather
thick, and no observation could be taken. Mr Grey had carefully kept
the reckoning, and knew, as he believed, more or less, her position; but
he found, on comparing notes, that the calculations made by Mr Scoones
placed her at a considerable distance from where he supposed she was; he
was therefore eagerly looking out for a glimpse of the sun by day or a
star by night to ascertain which was correct. The wind was again
favourable, and for some days they had been making good progress.

It was night, and the ship was running along with a pretty stiff breeze
and a moderate sea under whole topsails and topgallant sails. Mr
Scoones, although acting as captain, found it necessary to keep his
watch, in which Owen and Nat remained as before. The sky was cloudy,
and as there was no moon it was very dark. A good look-out was kept
forward, although the keenest pair of eyes could not have pierced the
gloom many fathoms ahead. Mr Scoones paced the deck, every now and
then, shouting to the men forward. Some care seemed to oppress him. He
might not have had the full confidence in his own reckoning which he
professed to have. Still, as the proud ship went scudding on across the
broad ocean, no one would have supposed that danger was near.

Owen was on the quarter-deck, when a startling cry came from forward.

"Breakers ahead! breakers on the starboard bow!"

"Down with the helm," shouted the first mate, rushing to assist the man
at the wheel; but ere he reached him an ominous grating noise was heard,
the ship trembled through her whole frame, but she surged on.

"We may yet scrape free," cried some of the men, as they sprang to the
braces.

The next instant, however, there came a fearful crash; the tall masts
tottered, the fore and main topmasts fell over the side, still leaving,
however, the lower yards standing; the mizen mast at the same instant
went by the board. The wheel spun round, casting the helmsm