The captain would smell a rat; depend upon that. He's too
sharp-sighted not to have observed what has been going on. I don't
think he altogether admires the young lady as much as you do."

"Have you read the remainder of the verses?" asked Billy. "Some of the
lines want endings, and some of the verses want lines and rhymes. My
ideas are very grand, but I am apt to break down for want of appropriate
rhymes."

"I'll find them for you," said Tom. "I've got a dictionary, and I'll
run my eye down it, and select as many as you can want."

"I should like to have finished them before she goes on shore," said
Billy.

"I don't see how that can be managed," observed Tom. "You can send them
to her before we again put to sea; it will be a last tender mark of your
affection, and she will appreciate it. If you will write the address on
an envelope I will get it sent with the captain's letters."

Billy was contented with this proposal, and turned in until his watch on
deck came round. At daylight the _Bellona_ slowly steamed in for the
land, for it was very nearly a calm, though heavy undulations rolled on
beneath the ship towards the shore. On approaching it the loud roar of
the surf was heard. It soon became evident that it would be utterly
impossible to land the troops. Jack made a signal to ask how long this
state of things would last. The answer was unsatisfactory. It might be
for a week or ten days. The troops were greatly wanted, but it would be
impossible for them to land, and Captain Rogers was requested to keep
close to the coast, that no opportunity might be lost in case the surf
should unexpectedly cease. He accordingly put the ship's head round,
and was steaming off, when suddenly the engines stopped.

The anchor, of course, was now the only resource, as there was not
sufficient wind to enable the ship to claw off the land. As rapidly as
possible the anchor was let go. No sooner had it caught the ground, and
the cable run out, than the influence of the rollers began sensibly to
be felt and the ship began pitching in a very unsatisfactory manner.
Astern was the threatening, barren-looking coast, with a broad line of
white breakers dashing savagely on it. On trying the current, it was
found setting west by north at the rate of a mile and a half an hour,
which, with the swell, would soon have placed the ship in a most
dangerous position. Jack himself went below to ascertain the amount of
damage to the