ut of the ship."

As the _Empress_ ran on, and no land was seen, the spirits of all began
to fall lower than before. In that latitude gales were as likely to
prevail as often as fine weather; and another might spring up before the
ship could be carried into a harbour, or run on shore if necessary.
Even Adair, who, since he had ascertained the correct position of the
ship, had had his hopes revive, now felt it was too probable that the
shore might never be reached.

The hours were passing by. He and Green again consulted the chart, to
decide for what other spot in the ocean they should steer should
Virginia Island not appear. They had just returned on deck, when the
look-out aloft shouted--

"Land! land!"

"Where away?" inquired the captain. "Just over the port bow."

"Are you sure it is land?" asked the captain.

"Certain, sir. I've seen it for the last ten minutes; but there was a
mist about it, and I could not make it out clearly enough."

The master and second lieutenant immediately went aloft, and took a look
through their glasses at the land. On coming below they reported that
there was no doubt about its being land of considerable elevation, but
of no great extent, with indented shores; and that they hoped,
therefore, a harbour might be found there.

The ship's course was accordingly slightly altered, and she stood
towards it under sail and steam. In a short time a high, rocky island
could be seen rising out of the now blue ocean, sparkling in the rays of
the setting sun. It was several miles to the eastward of the spot
marked on the chart.

"If it affords us shelter and the means of repairing the ship, we must
be truly thankful," observed Adair.

No murmurs were now heard. Even those who had shown an inclination to
skulk, laboured away with might and main. In a few more hours their
safety might be secured.

The sun set. Although the land was for some time distinctly seen, it
was yet a considerable distance off. Adair determined to run on and
anchor under the lee of the land, and to await until daylight, when a
harbour might be found.

The crew by this time might have given in, for the muscles even of the
strongest ached; but one and all laboured as before. Tommy and his
companion worked away with their jugs, although the poor little fellows
were almost dead beat.

"Cheer up, Ned!" Tommy kept saying. "If we keep the water out of the
ship, we shall see our mothers and sisters again;