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24 few orders requisite with full confidence of their being obeyed, for they were both favourites with the seamen.

Mean time the men stationed at the hatches conversed in whispers, their eyes anxiously directed to the shore. "It's a bad job, I'm afeard" said the latter of the two; "if we strike what'll become of the passengers? — our boats wont hold a quarter on'em." "Strike! be blowed," said the other; "d'ye see, we are almost abreast of the point?" "And do you see," said his companion, "that we could almost chuck a biscuit ashore?"

It was not many minutes before the mate resigned the wheel into the hands of the man from whom he had taken it, he and the captain shook hands heartily, and well they might, for the point was cleared, and the danger left behind; sail was reduced, and then the men were ordered a double allowance of grog.

A fresh hand now came aft to the wheel—"A close shave just now, Bill: eh?", he said.

"Aye: 'twas uncommon—thought of Davy Jones:—a miss is as good as a mile, though; and 'tis an ill wind that blows nobody good:—it's blowed us a double allowance of grog—there's consolation in that. I ony wish 't'ad blowed us some baccy; for I don't think there's a pound in all the ship, cept wot the long passenger's got, and that's pretty nigh spoilt, for its cigars." "Oh here he comes on deck! just fetch me a wad of hay, will you? and I'll try and torture some compassion out of him."

The passenger referred to now came on the poop. He was a tall high-shouldered man, who stooped a great deal, and wore spectacles. The steersman having been supplied with a wisp of hay, rolled it up tightly, and pushing one end into his cheek he chewed away upon it as if it were his natural food. The