lecture, they with one accord begged my pardon for what had already
happened, and most fervently promised that I should have no cause of
complaint against them in the future.

This important matter settled thus far to my satisfaction, I sent Barr
and Christianssen aloft to loose the fore-topsail and topgallantsail,
while Joe and the negro performed a similar duty on the mainmast, both
parties receiving instructions to cast off the lashings from the
staysails on their way down. While this was doing, Forbes lay out upon
the jib-boom and loosed the jib and fore-topmast staysail, I busying
myself, meanwhile, in casting loose the mizzen. Presently, Joe hailed
from aloft that the men on shore had made their appearance on the beach;
and, upon looking in that direction, I saw the whole party of them
gathered there, close to the water's edge, intently watching our
movements. Just then Sir Edgar made his appearance on deck, and, with a
cheery "good morning," laughingly declared that he intended to ship for
the voyage to the nearest port as an "honorary seaman," and was ready to
enter upon his duties at once. I, of course, thanked him for this kind
proffer of his services, assuring him that, short-handed as we were, it
would be in his power to render us invaluable assistance; and, the hands
at that moment coming down from aloft, we sheeted home the topsails, and
got the yards to the mastheads.

Nothing now remained but to loose our hold upon the ground, and make a
start. This we could, of course, at once do by simply slipping the
cable; but an anchor is altogether too useful an article to be
needlessly thrown away. Many a good ship has driven ashore and gone to
pieces for want of an anchor that has been slipped and not replaced; I
was, therefore, very much averse to slipping in the present instance
without at least _trying_ to get the anchor. On putting the question to
the others, Forbes had no doubt of our ability to do it, while the rest
expressed their perfect readiness to try; we accordingly manned the
windlass, and--San Domingo starting a lively "shanty"--walked the barque
up to her anchor almost without an effort. Having got the cable "up and
down," we next ran up the fore-topmast staysail, and then went to the
fore-braces and trimmed the head-yards for casting the ship to
starboard. Just then, and in the very nick of time, Miss Merrivale came
on deck, looking as bright and radiant as the morning itself; and I at