machinery, and to urge the engineers to work with all
speed. The chief engineer looked grave.

"We ought to be in harbour, with smooth water, to accomplish this work,"
he observed; "but we will do our best, sir."

"Should a breeze spring up, we will get under way, and the ship will be
far more steady than she is now," answered Jack. "What was the cause of
the accident?"

"A flaw, sir, which ought to have been discovered. It is only a wonder
that it did not give way before, and I cannot account for its going now.
However, as I said, sir, we will do our best."

"You can do no more, Mr Rivett," answered Jack. "Send for as many
hands as you want, if they can assist you."

"Our own people are enough at present, but we may want them by-and-by,"
was the answer.

Jack returned on deck to find his principal guest looking rather pale.
The major had been often enough at sea to know that a ship caught on a
lee shore, with the chance of a heavy gale springing up, was not in a
pleasant position. He felt also somewhat physically upset by the
unusual motion. The ship was indeed riding uneasily, pulling at her
cable as if at any instant she might haul the anchor from the bottom.
Jack ordered another cable to be ranged in case of accident, for, should
the bower anchor be carried away, there would be no time to lose in
bringing up.

It is an ill wind that blows nobody good; and Billy was congratulating
himself on the happiness of spending a few more days in the society of
Angelica, but the motion of the ship had produced the same effect on her
as it had on her papa, and when at length she did appear on deck, Tom
remarked that she looked wonderfully yellow about the region of the
mouth.

"I say, Billy," he observed, mischievously, "I think it would be very
appropriate to compare her to the sunflower now."

In vain Billy tried to console her; she was too miserable to speak. He
at length had to lead her below to the door of her cabin.

The calm continued all night, though the weather looked very
threatening. In vain the engineers toiled on without ceasing. It might
take two or three days even now before the damage could be repaired.
The night came on. The captain, first lieutenant, and master felt too
uneasy to turn in. Either the second or third lieutenant remained on
the forecastle, ready to issue the necessary orders for letting go the
other cable, should the first give way. It held on, however, until
morning, bu