ngly did directly after breakfast, setting our balloon gaff-
topsail once more, and getting the spinnaker to the bowsprit-end again.

This additional canvas had the effect of increasing our speed to fully
sixteen knots; and the alteration of our course produced a corresponding
and very agreeable change in the motion of the yacht; the quick jerky
plunge of a vessel digging into a head-sea being exchanged for a long
easy swinging roll, which was far more conducive to comfort, especially
as we now enjoyed the added luxury of a dry deck.

Three days passed utterly devoid of incident, except that the wind
gradually hauled far enough aft to enable us to shift our spinnaker from
the bowsprit-end to the starboard side; and once more we were flying
along upon our course with the wind nearly dead fair, and every stitch
of canvas spread that we had the means of packing upon the little craft.

With our low hull, we must have presented the appearance of a snow-white
pyramid, gliding, unsupported, over the surface of the ocean. On the
morning of the fourth day, as I came upon deck at seven-bells to relieve
Bob, whilst he looked after breakfast, the old fellow said, "Here,
Harry, your eyes are younger than mine; what d'ye make this out to be
away here broad upon our starboard-bow?"

I looked in the direction indicated, and saw what appeared to be the
stumps of three spars just showing above the horizon. I took the glass,
and went aloft as far as the cross-trees, and from that "coign of
'vantage" made out that they were the lower-masts of a full-rigged ship
of considerable size; for I could see the three lower yards with long
streamers of canvas fluttering from them.

The topmasts were carried away close to the caps and hung over the side,
with topgallant-masts, yards, sails, etcetera, still attached, a great
tangled mass of wreck. There was no signal of distress flying on board,
so far as I could see, so I concluded that the vessel was derelict; but
as it would not take us very much out of our way, and as we were in no
great hurry, I resolved to haul up and take a nearer look at her.

Accordingly, having advised Bob of what I had seen and of my intention,
we took in the spinnaker and gaff-topsail, lowered the topmast, and then
hauled up for the stranger.

An hour afterwards we were near enough to make out that she was a most
beautiful craft of about eighteen hundred tons register, with very
little the matter with her apparent