d exertions of Ready and William the breakfast was prepared
while Mrs Seagrave still continued in a sound sleep. The motion of the
ship was now very little: she only rolled very slowly from one side to
the other; the sea and wind had gone down, and the sun shone brightly
over their heads; the boat had been out of sight some time, and the ship
did not go through the water faster than three miles an hour, for she
had no other sail upon her than the main-topgallant sail hoisted up on
the stump of the foremast. Ready, who had been some time down in the
cabin, proposed to Mr Seagrave that Juno and all the children should go
on deck. "They cannot be expected to be quiet, sir; and, now that Madam
is in such a sweet sleep, it would be a pity to wake her. After so much
fatigue she may sleep for hours, and the longer the better, for you know
that (in a short time, I trust) she will have to exert herself." Mr
Seagrave agreed to the good sense of this proposal, and went on deck
with Juno and the children, leaving William in the cabin to watch his
mother. Poor Juno was very much astonished when she came up the ladder
and perceived the condition of the vessel, and the absence of the men;
but Mr Seagrave told her what had happened, and cautioned her against
saying a word to Mrs Seagrave. Juno promised that she would not; but
the poor girl perceived the danger of their position, and, as she
pressed little Albert to her bosom, a tear or two rolled down her
cheeks. Even Tommy and Caroline could not help asking where the masts
and sails were, and what had become of Captain Osborn.

"Look there, sir," said Ready, pointing out some floating sea-weed to
Mr Seagrave.

"I perceive it," said Mr Seagrave; "but what then?"

"That by itself would not be quite proof," replied Ready, "but we
sailors have other signs and tokens. Do you see those birds hovering
over the waves?"

"I do."

"Well, sir, those birds never go far from land, that's all: and now,
sir, I'll go down for my quadrant; for, although I cannot tell the
longitude just now, at all events I can find out the latitude we are in,
and then by looking at the chart shall be able to give some kind of
guess whereabout we are, if we see land soon.

"It is nearly noon now," observed Ready, reading off his quadrant, "the
sun rises very slowly. What a happy thing a child is! Look, sir, at
those little creatures playing about, and as merry now, and as unaware
of danger, as if they