nevertheless, and blew steadily from the southwest; but the currents were against the ship's course, and she scarcely made any way. The heavy, lumpy sea strained her cordage, her timbers c

y have come down. John Mangles therefore hoped that the wretched hull would reach port without accident; but it gr

f air and the violence of the motion were painfully felt. They often braved the weather, and went on the poop till driven down again by the

route as to be quite unhinged. Much as they had been interested in his dissertation on the Pampas, or Australia, his lectures on New Zealand fell on cold and indifferent ear

on the rail, sometimes walking to and fro in feverish agitation. His eyes wandered ceaselessly over the blank horizon. He scanned it eagerly during every short interval of clear weather. It seemed as if he sought to question the voiceless waters; he longed to tear away the veil of fog and vapor that obscured his view. He could not be resigned, and his features expressed the bitternes

ook his head

longing to quit this vessel. We ought to have se

ked, and for a moment his glass was p

e, my Lord," said John Mangl

Glenarvan. "I am not

hen, my

y waves, playing the vile part of a pirate! It is here, John; I am certain of it, on the track of v

s from such

, Jo

hat could we do in this ship if the DU

, Jo

es, and Ben Joyce has shown us that he does not stop at a crime! Our lives would be worth little. W

ometimes despair nearly masters me. I feel as if fresh misfortunes

my L

, but for those I lov

ley is a brute, but I am keeping my eyes open, and if the coast looks dangerous, I will put the ship's head to sea again. So that, on that score, there is little o

an engagement in these narrow seas, in which pirates could ply their trade without risk. However, for that day at least, the yach

e stupefaction of the drunkard and roused Will Halley. He left his cabin, rubbed his eyes, and shook his great red head. Then he drew a great deep breath of air, as other peo

itted] [page int

ith the coarse seaman; but neither Glenarvan nor he left the poop. Two hours after a stiff breeze came on. Will Halley took in the lower reef of his topsails. The maneuver would have bee

ed the rocks. There was no real danger, but the heavy vessel did not rise easily to the waves. By and by the return

the bow, for the deck was filled at every lurch, and the sheet of water not being able to escape quickly by the scuppers, might submerge the ship. It would ha

n, John Mangles and Wilson, who stayed on deck throughout the gale, were suddenly struck by an u

n; "the waves bre

n two cables'

t? The land

zed into the dark water, and

on seized the lead-line, sprang to the fore-chains, and threw the lead;

homs," cri

unning to Will Halley,

m, put it hard down, while Wilson, leaving the line, hauled at the main-topsail brace to bring the ship

d the young captain, working

toward them, and, in spite of the darkness, John could disce

radictory orders showed that this stupid sot had quite lost his self-control. He was taken by surprise at the proximity of the land, which was eight miles off, wh

kers. But John did not know the position. For anything he could tell he was girdled in by

ught her up. The breakers increased under the bow of the vessel, and it was necessary to put her about to regain the open sea. Whether she

n!" cried Mang

luminous, just as if lit up by sudden phosphorescence. The roaring of the sea was like the voice of those ancient Tritons whom poetic mythology endowed with life. Wilson and

, carried her up on the reefs, where she struck with great violence. The foremast came down with all the fore-

were sweeping the deck from one side to the other, and they dared not stay there. John Mangles,

th, John," said

dstill. Whether the sea will devour us is ano

s mid

and we must wai

ot lower

ark, it is impossible. And,

n, let us wait f

recovered their senses, and now broached a cask of brandy, and began to d

re his hair and wrung his hands. His whole thought was his uninsured car

and they all held themselves in readiness to resist the sailors who w

omes near the ladies, I will shoot

ese drunken rascals, and waited impatiently for the dawn. The ship was now quite motionless. The sea became gradually calmer. The wind fell. The hull would be safe for some hours yet. At dayb

of the surf. He tried to pierce the darkness. He wondered how far it was to the land they longed for no less th

tude of the brig insured them some hours of repose. Glenarvan, John, and their companions, no longer disturbed by the noise of the crew who were now wrapped in

eturned to the deck. The horizon was veiled with a curtain of fog. Some faint outlines were shadowed in the mist, but at a considera

ery stage. Black reefs rose out of the waters. Then a line became defined on the belt of foam, and there gleamed a luminou

cried Joh

n silence at the coast whose outline lay on the horizon. Whether they

alley?" ask

my Lord," repl

re the s

le, like

unk, like himself

id Glenarvan, "we cannot

they returned. The place was empty! They then searched between decks

e?" exclaime

fallen into the s

gles, who was getting uneasy. Then turning

lowed to launch the ya