ysail without splitting it, after which we filled the fore-topsail
and headed the ship for the mysterious object.

We were now close-hauled upon the larboard tack, with the object a bare
three points upon the lee bow, and it soon became apparent that, as we
were making fully that amount of leeway, it would require some rather
fine steering to fetch it without breaking tacks--an operation which I
was particularly anxious to avoid, short-handed as we were. Forbes,
however, was at the wheel, and as he was a splendid helmsman, it was
pretty certain that if the thing could be done he would do it.

When luncheon was announced we had drawn up to within about four miles
of the object; but so heavily was the sea still running that, even at
that distance, it was only occasionally that we could catch sight of it,
presenting now, as looked at through the ship's telescope, the
appearance of a large fragment of floating wreck.

The news which I took to the luncheon table, that a mysterious floating
something of considerable size had been sighted ahead, and that we were
making for it, had a very stimulating effect upon the occupants of the
saloon, who, enveloping themselves in mackintoshes, followed me on deck
when I rose from the table, with an eagerness born of the longing for
some occurrence to break the monotony of and make them forget for a time
the wearisome pitching and rolling of the ship, the monotonous,
unceasing clank and jar of the cabin-doors on their hooks, the
continuous creaking of the bulkheads, the thump of the wheel-chains on
the deck, the never-ending wash of the water, and the howling of the
wind in the rigging. And, despite the merciless buffeting of the wind,
and the ceaseless drenching showers of spray that flew over us, the
change from the saloon to the deck was unanimously voted an improvement;
for it involved a transition from a close, oppressive atmosphere to an
exhilarating breeze, redolent of the strong salt odour of the brine, and
bracing by reason of its very violence; while the brilliant sunshine,
sparkling upon the deep, windy blue of the vast mountain surges that
surrounded us, and converting every spray-shower, into a gorgeous
rainbow, constituted an ever-changing picture of rich and splendid
colour and wild, tumultuous movement that was not to be easily
forgotten. I thought Miss Merrivale had never looked so lovely as she
did then, enveloped in a thin, soft, silky-looking mackintosh, with a
da