A TRAGEDY; AND A NARROW ESCAPE._Dick Leslie's Luck: A Story of Shipwreck and Adventure

For the next two or three days Purchas faithfully adhered to his promise

to refrain from taking enough liquor to "capsize" him; when, again at

midnight, on going below to call him, Leslie found the fellow so

completely intoxicated that it was impossible to arouse him; and he had

perforce to remain on deck the whole night through. And when at length,

at the expiration of the morning watch, he again went below, hoping to

find that the man had at all events so far slept off the effects of his

over-night debauch as to be capable of coming on deck and sobering

himself by taking a douche under the head pump, he discovered, to his

intense disgust, that this glib maker of promises had somehow obtained a

further supply of rum during the night, and was at that moment in a more

helpless state than ever! The brig was, however, by this time within a

day's sail of the equator, where Leslie felt tolerably certain that they

would fall in with one or more homeward-bound ships, and so be able to

transfer Miss Trevor to safer and more eligible quarters; so he did not

allow the incident to worry him greatly. He remained on deck long

enough to secure sights for his longitude; and then, turning over the

care of the brig to the carpenter--a very steady and trustworthy man--he

went below and turned in, giving orders that he was to be called at

seven bells; adding, in explanation of Purchas's non-appearance, that he

was not very well.

It seemed that he had been asleep but a few minutes when the carpenter,

in pursuance of his instructions, knocked at his cabin door, with the

information that seven bells had gone. He accordingly rose, plunged his

head into a basin of cold water, and within ten minutes was once more on

deck, with Potter's sextant in his hand, ready to take the sun's

meridian altitude, from which to deduce the latitude.

This done, his calculations completed, and the brig's position at noon

pricked off on the chart, he once more hied him to Purchas's cabin, only

to find the door locked from within. For the moment he felt very

strongly inclined to burst his way into the cabin, and haul the man up

on deck, drunk or sober; but upon further reflection he realised that by

the adoption of such a course he would be irretrievably "giving the man

away" to his crew--which it was eminently undesirable to do--so,

muttering to himself, "Let the brute drink himself out; he will perhaps

be better afterwards!" he entered the main cabin and seated himself at

the table, upon which the noonday meal was already spread.

Miss Trevor and he were of course the only persons present, with the

exception of the steward, who was waiting upon them; and presently the

girl, noticing the absence of Purchas, inquired whether he was ill.

"He is not very well, I am sorry to say," answered Leslie, briefly; and

then he turned the conversation into another channel.

But later on, when the steward had left the cabin, he said to Miss

Trevor--

"You were just now inquiring about Purchas; and I told you that he was

not very well. That reply, I must now explain to you, was not strictly

accurate, but I gave it because the steward was present, and I did not

wish to state the actual facts in his presence; for, had I done so, it

is certain that he would have carried the news forward to the men, which

would have been eminently undesirable. The truth, however, is that

Purchas has lately given way to drink, and is at this moment locked in

his cabin, helplessly intoxicated. It is a thousand pities; for the man

has now an excellent opportunity of confirming himself in the command of

this brig, and so establishing himself in the position of ship-master,

if he will but make use of it. That, however, is his affair; not ours.

My reason for telling you this is, that if the present breeze holds we

shall reach the equator by this time to-morrow, at a point where we may

hope to fall in with homeward-bound ships; indeed we may meet with them

at any moment now; I would therefore advise you to pack up your

belongings forthwith, in order that you may be ready to be transferred

to the first suitable craft that comes along."

"Thank you very much for telling me this," answered the girl. "I shall

be more than glad, for many reasons, to once more find myself

`homeward-bound,' as I believe you sailors term it. And although,

thanks to your never-ceasing kindness and consideration, I have been

quite comfortable and happy on board this vessel, it will be a relief to

me to leave her, for the memory of that terrible man, Potter, oppresses

me. I should think that you, too, will be very glad to get away from a

ship that must be fraught, for you, with such unpleasant memories."

"I shall, indeed," assented Leslie. "But my deliverance, as I suppose

you know, must come later. The misfortune by which I became, most

unwillingly, the primary cause of Potter's death, renders it imperative

that I should go on to Valparaiso with this brig, there to surrender

myself to the authorities and answer for my action. I do not suppose,"

he continued, in answer to the expression of consternation that suddenly

leapt into her eyes, "that they will be very hard upon me; Purchas and

the whole of the crew can of course testify that I acted under extreme

provocation and in self-defence; so that probably, if I have to stand a

trial at all, the verdict will be one of `misadventure.'"

"Oh, but this is dreadful!" ejaculated the girl.

She pulled herself up suddenly, and appeared to consider the situation

for some moments; then she said very quietly--

"So, if I am to go home, it appears that I shall have to go alone?"

"I fear so," answered Leslie. "But," he continued reassuringly, "you

must not run away with the idea that I intend to pack you off aboard the

first ship that happens to come along, suitable or otherwise; I reckon

upon falling in with several ships within the next thirty-six hours, we

shall therefore be able to pick and choose; and you may rest assured

that I will not put you aboard a vessel until I have thoroughly

satisfied myself that you will be quite comfortable and happy in her.

And although we have been speaking only of homeward-bound ships, thus

far, we must not forget that, if we should happen to run into a calm on

the Line, it is quite on the cards that we may encounter something

_outward-bound_, either to the Cape, India, or Australia, into which to

trans-ship you; in which case you will be able to continue your original

journey with practically no loss of time."

"Yes," answered Miss Trevor, slowly. "That would be an advantage,

certainly. On the whole, Mr Leslie, I think I should greatly prefer an

outward-bound to a homeward-bound ship, if you please."

"All right," laughed Leslie; "we will see what can be done. And now I

must go on deck to keep a lookout for a suitable craft."

He paused at Purchas's cabin, on his way on deck, and tried the door,

but it was still locked from the inside; so he ascended the companion

ladder and went out on deck. It was a most gloriously brilliant and

sparkling afternoon; the sky an intense blue, save where it was flecked

here and there with woolly-looking patches of trade cloud sailing

solemnly up out of the east; the sea, too, was as brilliantly blue as

the sky, but of a deeper tint; there was not very much swell on,

although the breeze was blowing fresh from the eastward; and the brig,

with her weather-braces well checked, was staggering along under every

rag of canvas that would draw. Leslie glanced keenly ahead and then all

round the crystalline clear horizon in search of a sail; but there was

nothing in sight save a school of porpoises that were gambolling

alongside, racing the brig and chasing each other athwart her fore-foot,

each fish apparently rivalling all the rest in an endeavour to see which

could shave the brig's stem most closely without being touched by it.

Thinking that the sight might amuse Miss Trevor, he ran quickly down the

companion ladder and entered the main cabin, with the object of inviting

her to come on deck and witness it. He entered the cabin just in time

to catch sight of her effecting a distinctly hasty retreat into her own

private berth; and although it was only, a momentary glimpse that he

caught of her ere she slammed the door behind her, he could almost have

sworn that she had her pocket-handkerchief to her eyes, as though she

were, or had been, crying. Vaguely wondering what was the trouble, he

paused uncertainly for a few seconds; then, in pursuance of his original

intention, he knocked at her door, and shouted--

"Miss Trevor, there is a school of porpoises at play alongside, if you

would care to come on deck and watch them. It is a pretty sight, and, I

think, would amuse you."

There was no reply for a moment or two. Then, in a strangely muffled

tone of voice, the girl answered--

"Thank you, Mr Leslie. I will be up in a few minutes."

It was fully ten minutes after this that the girl, clad entirely in

white, made her appearance on deck; and as Leslie stole a covert glance

at her face, and noted its absolute composure, he told himself that he

had been mistaken; she had certainly _not_ been crying; and he wondered

what in the world it was that could have put so ridiculous an idea into

his head. She appeared to be frankly and unfeignedly interested in the

gambols of the porpoises, laughing heartily from time to time; and

altogether seemed so absolutely happy and free from care that Leslie,

while he could have kicked himself for being such a fool, felt quite

reassured.

At sunset, that night, the breeze still held as fresh as ever; but no

sail had yet been sighted, either meeting or overtaking the brig; a

circumstance that somewhat disconcerted Leslie, for he was aiming to

cross the equator in the longitude of 30 degrees West, at which point it

is quite usual for a number of outward and homeward-bound ships to meet;

and the _Mermaid_ was now so near that point that, with the wind holding

so fresh and steady as it did, he would not have been in the least

surprised to fall in with quite a procession of craft proceeding in

either direction. It was disappointing, this bareness of the horizon in

every direction; for he felt that his companion and charge must be

intensely anxious to exchange into something that would be taking her

either back to her home, or out to her friends; and he was keenly

desirous to relieve her anxiety at the earliest possible moment. And

yet, at the back of his mind, behind his earnestness of desire, he was

ashamed to discover that there existed a certain feeling of satisfaction

that the moment for parting with the girl was still deferred. He had

found his connection with her very pleasant--the strong and virile man

always _does_ find it pleasant to have something or somebody to protect

and be dependent upon him--she was the only intellectual companion now

left to him; and with her would go the only individual with whom he

could exchange an idea worth uttering. Yes, he admitted to himself, he

would miss her when she was gone, miss her badly; ay, and more than

badly. Well, it couldn't be helped; she must go, of course; and this

curious feeling of depression that was worrying him at the thought was

but an additional imperative reason for her departure with the least

possible delay. If by any chance her departure were to be delayed much

longer it might be that by then he would feel that he did not want to

part with her at all! He stamped his foot on the deck in impatient

anger at the novel and unpleasant turn that his thoughts were taking;

and sprang into the fore-rigging on his way to the royal-yard, to take a

last look round ere darkness fell. He soon reached his destination, and

swept the whole circle of the horizon with an eager intensity of gaze.

And so clear and transparent was the air that had there been anything in

the nature of a sail within thirty miles he could have seen it. The

horizon, however, was as bare as it had been from the deck; and he

presently descended from his post of observation with an obstinate

feeling of relief that made him intensely angry with himself.

Three times, that evening, during the dog-watches, did Leslie try the

door of Purchas's cabin, in an endeavour to gain access to the man and

ascertain his condition. On the first two occasions he failed, the door

remaining locked against him; but when for the third time he found the

door still fastened, he lost patience and, setting his shoulder to the

obstruction, burst it open; having arrived at the conclusion that the

fellow ought not to be left to himself any longer.

He found the cabin, as he had quite expected, reeking with the fumes of

rum, and Purchas still insensible in his bunk. It had been a matter of

astonishment to him how the man had contrived to keep himself supplied

with drink; for although Leslie, Miss Trevor, and the steward were

constantly in and out of the main cabin--from which alone access was to

be gained to the lazarette, wherein the ship's stores and the spirits

were stowed--no one had seen him moving about. Stifling therefore the

feeling of loathing and nausea that possessed him, he proceeded to

institute a search of the cabin with the object of ascertaining whether

the drunkard had secreted a supply therein. The search resulted in the

speedy discovery of twelve bottles, seven of them empty, an eighth about

a quarter full, and four still unbroached. The whole of these he at

once got rid of by opening the port in the side of the cabin, and

launching them through it into the sea. Then, leaving the port

wide-open to sweeten the air somewhat, and assist in the revivification

of the man in the bunk, he retired from the cabin, closing the door

behind him, and went on deck.

The prolonged incapacity of the new skipper rendered it necessary for

Leslie to make some arrangement whereby he could secure a proper amount

of rest; and therefore, the carpenter being a steady and fairly reliable

man, he arranged with him that the latter should take charge of the

starboard watch during Purchas's "indisposition." It was Leslie's eight

hours in, that night, and consequently he was free to retire to his

cabin between the end of the second dog-watch and midnight; but the

weather was now so hot that the comparative coolness of the night air on

deck proved irresistibly attractive to Miss Trevor, who, "sleeping in"

all night, was naturally indisposed to go to bed at so early an hour as

eight o'clock in the evening; and as she evinced a disposition to keep

the deck for an hour or two, Leslie also remained on deck to bear her

company.

For some time the two walked the weather side of the brig's flush deck,

between the stern grating and the mainmast, conversing more or less

intermittently upon various topics, until at length Leslie's attention

was attracted to the man at the wheel, who, he noticed, was continually

glancing over his shoulder with a perturbed air at the water astern,

instead of keeping his eyes upon the compass card. It seemed also to

Leslie that the man was trying to attract his attention, although he was

too bashful, in Miss Trevor's presence, to speak.

So when the pair next reached the stern grating in the course of their

promenade, Leslie paused, and said--

"What is the matter, Tom? You seem to be bestowing quite an unusual

amount of attention on the wake of the ship; is there anything

remarkable to be seen there?"

The man straightened himself up with the satisfied air of one who, after

much striving, has at length achieved success.

"Well, I don't exactly know, sir, as you would call it _remarkable_" he

answered; "but there's something visible over the starn as perhaps the

lady might like to see."

"Oh!" answered Leslie. "Then let us have a look at it."

And offering his hand to Miss Trevor, he assisted her to mount the

grating and led her to the taffrail, over which they both leaned, gazing

down into the black profundity beneath them.

The brig was travelling at the rate of about six knots; at which speed

she was wont to create a considerable amount of disturbance in the

element through which she ploughed her passage; the water was

brilliantly phosphorescent, and as a result of this the wake of the brig

was on this occasion a mass of sea-fire, the foam that she churned up on

either side of her glowing and sparkling with luminous clouds

interspersed with thousands of tiny stars that waxed and waned with

every plunge of the vessel. The water was almost as transparent as air

itself, and by leaning out over the taffrail it was possible to see the

rudder, the brig's "heel," and a considerable amount of her "run," all

aglow with bluish white light that streamed away far astern like a

miniature Milky Way. It was a beautiful spectacle, and one at which an

imaginative person might have gazed for a full hour or more without

tiring. But Tom, the helmsman, was not an imaginative man, and the

spectacle of a ship's wake glowing and scintillating with sea-stars was

one that he had beheld so often that it had long ceased to appeal to him

as anything at all uncommon. It was something else that had attracted

his attention, and that he had thought might interest "the lady." For

there, in the very thickest of the swirling mass of clouds and discs and

circles and stars of sea-fire, at a depth of perhaps six feet below the

surface, was to be seen, brilliantly illuminated by its own movement

through the water, the glowing shape of an enormous shark, fully twenty

feet in length, keeping pace with the brig as steadily as if he were

being towed by her. The whole bulk of the monster was clearly,

startlingly, distinct, much more so than would have been the case at

daytime, for his body showed against the black water like a shape of

white fire, while with every sweep of his powerful tail he scattered a

trail of glowing sparks behind him that constituted of itself quite a

respectable wake.

"Oh, what a dreadful creature!" exclaimed Miss Trevor, shrinking back in

dismay at the sight. "It is like a nightmare! That must surely be a

shark; is it not? It is the first shark I have ever seen, Mr Leslie;

and I am certain that I never wish to see another. I had no idea that

sharks were such monstrous creatures; I always thought that they were

about the same size as the porpoises that we were looking at this

afternoon."

"Yes," laughed Leslie, "very possibly. This, however, is rather an

exceptionally fine fellow, although I have seen even bigger specimens

than he. Do not look at him too long," he continued, "or possibly you

may dream of him, in which case he would be likely to prove a nightmare

to you indeed."

"He've been followin' of us for the last hour, sir," remarked the

helmsman. "And they _do_ say that when a shark hangs on to a ship like

that, somebody's goin' to die aboard of her."

"Yes," answered Leslie, carelessly, "I have heard that story myself; but

I don't believe it, for I have been in ships that have been followed for

days on end by sharks, without anything coming of it--except that we

have generally managed to catch the sharks themselves at last. No; this

fellow is following us because he happens to be hungry, and hopes that

the cook will heave overboard enough scraps to take the sharp edge off

his appetite. But the dew is falling very heavily, Miss Trevor; had not

you better fetch up a wrap?"

"No, thanks," answered the girl, as she moved away and extended her hand

for him to help her down off the grating on to the deck; "it is growing

late, so I will bid you good night and go to my cabin."

"Sorry to hear that Mr Purchas is bad, sir," observed Tom, tentatively,

when Miss Trevor had vanished down the companion ladder. "Hope it ain't

nothin' serious?"

"Oh dear, no," answered Leslie, perceiving with annoyance that the man

was connecting the presence of the shark under the counter with

Purchas's invisibility; "merely a rather sharp bilious attack, which is

now over, I am glad to say. He will probably be on deck again

to-morrow."

Then, as the carpenter--who had been keeping out of the way during Miss

Trevor's presence on deck--came aft, Leslie gave over the charge of the

brig to him, and turned in.

The remainder of the first watch, and the whole of the middle watch,

passed without incident save that, when Leslie went on deck at midnight,

he found that the wind had softened down somewhat--as was indeed to be

expected, with the brig drawing so near to the equator--the vessel's

speed having dropped to about four knots. But the weather held superbly

fine, and the barometer remained absolutely steady; Leslie therefore

retired to his bunk at the end of the middle watch with a perfectly easy

mind, and the fixed determination to have Purchas on deck and under the

head pump at seven bells, when he himself would be called.

It was still quite dark when he was startled out of a profound sleep by

a sudden loud outcry on deck, followed by a rushing and scuffling of

feet overhead accompanied by the flapping of canvas, as though the brig

had been suddenly luffed into the wind.

Leslie was well acquainted with the vagaries of equatorial weather, and

therefore, under the apprehension that a squall was threatening, he

sprang from his berth and dashed up on deck without waiting to exchange

his pyjamas for other clothing. As he emerged from the companion he

came into violent contact with some one who was evidently about to make

a hasty descent of the ladder; and when the pair had recovered from the

shock, he discovered that he had collided with the carpenter, who

betrayed every symptom of the most violent agitation; while the entire

crew, apparently, shouting to each other excitedly, were grouped upon

the stern grating. The brig had been luffed into the wind, and

everything, including studding-sails, was flat aback. It was well for

the craft, and all concerned, that the wind had fallen light, or there

would have been mischief up aloft, and plenty of wreckage among the

lighter spars.

"What in the world is the matter, Chips?" demanded Leslie testily, as

with a single glance he took in the full condition of affairs.

"Oh, Mr Leslie, sir, something awful has just happened!" exclaimed the

man addressed, stammering with agitation and excitement. "I were

standin' as it might be just there," pointing to a spot on the deck

about midway between the skylight and the mainmast, "fillin' my pipe,

when out of the corner of my heye I seen somebody step out of the

companion on deck; and fust of all I thought 'twas you; but, lookin'

again, I see as it was the skipper--not Cap'n Potter, you'll understand,

sir, he bein' dead and buried; but Cap'n Purchas. I were just goin' up

to him to say how glad I were to see 'im about again, when he steps over

to the binnacle, takes a peep into the compass-bowl, and then, afore a

man could say `Jack Robinson,' up he jumps on to the starn gratin', from

there to the taffrail--an' overboard! Scotty, there, who was at the

wheel, owns that he more'n half guessed, from the queer look in the

skipper's heyes, that somethin' was wrong, and made a grab at 'im as 'e

passed; but Mr Purchas were miles too quick for 'im, and Scotty on'y

reached the taffrail in time to see the pore man strike the water. And

the next second that devil of a shark that have been followin' of us had

'im!"

Leslie reeled as though he had been struck a heavy blow. Here was

another tragedy; the second that had happened within the short space of

time that had elapsed since he had joined this unlucky brig. And even

as he had blamed himself for being in some sort responsible for the

first, so now he reproached himself as being in a measure responsible

for this. He felt that he had been remiss. In his anxiety to shield

the unhappy man from the observation and unfavourable comment of the

crew, he had carefully concealed from everybody the true cause of

Purchas's retirement, leaving the man alone to recover from his drunken

bout instead of telling off somebody to watch him. Had he done this, he

reflected in self-reproach, this dreadful thing would not have happened.

The need for concealment was now past, however; so, rallying his

faculties, he called all hands to group themselves round him, as he had

something to say to them.

"My lads," he began, "I believe that you all profoundly regret the awful

thing that has just happened; for Mr Purchas was a most kind and

considerate officer to every one of you. But none of you can regret his

terrible end so much as I do; for I feel that I am to some extent to

blame for it. A certain wise man has said, `Of the dead speak nothing

but good;' and it is well to carry out this precept, so far as is

possible. There are occasions, however, when the truth--the whole

truth--must be told, even though it reflect discredit upon those who are

gone; and this is one of them. I am sorry to be obliged to tell you

that what really ailed Mr Purchas was--drunkenness! Very little more

than a week had elapsed after Captain Potter's death when I discovered

in Mr Purchas a tendency to take rather too much rum. I spoke to him

about it, with the result that he promised to be more moderate in his

potations. But he did not keep his promise, and upon one occasion, at

least, he was so thoroughly intoxicated that he slept through his entire

watch, stretched out upon a hencoop."

"Ay, ay, sir; that's gospel truth. I remember it perfectly," murmured

two or three of the men, interrupting.

"Of course," assented Leslie, "you could not have avoided noticing it.

It was after that occurrence that I remonstrated with him; and for a few

days thereafter he was better. Then he began again, finally giving way

altogether, with the melancholy result that you have all witnessed. I

knew how injurious to his interests it would be, and how seriously it

would weaken discipline if you men should once come to understand that

your skipper was a drunkard; so I let it be understood among you that

Mr Purchas was confined to his cabin through a slight illness; while,

as a matter of fact, he was all the time lying there in a drunken

stupor.

"_Now_, when it is too late, I feel that I committed an error of

judgment in attempting to conceal from you all the actual facts.

Instead of being so keenly anxious to shield him that I could think of

nothing else, I ought to have anticipated the possibility that upon his

return to consciousness he might be tempted to do something foolish;

and, anticipating this, I ought to have told off a man from each watch

to sit with and keep an eye upon him."

"Ay," observed the carpenter, "it might ha' been a good thing to ha'

done that, certingly. But you haven't got nothin' to reproach yourself

with, sir; you done what you did with a good and kind intention; and you

wasn't to know that the fust thing he'd do when he come back to his

senses 'd be to up and jump overboard. Oh no, sir, you ain't to blame

in noways for what's happened. What do _you_ say, bullies?"

"No, no; in course the gen'leman ain't to blame; nobody what's seen how

the land lay--like we have--and how Mr Leslie have been a-doin' all he

could to help the skipper, could ever say as he's any way to blame. Not

he!" answered one and another of the men, each of them in one way or

another endorsing the carpenter's verdict.

"Thank you, men," returned Leslie; "it is a great relief to me to feel

that you think as you do in this matter. Now, that being disposed of,

there is a further point to be considered; and it is this. The shocking

fate of Mr Purchas leaves us with no navigator on board save myself. I

have no great desire to proceed in this brig all the way to Valparaiso;

but, nevertheless, there are reasons that, to me, seem to make it

desirable that I should do so. I may tell you that we are now very near

the Line; so near, indeed, that we may fall in with other craft, aiming

to cross it at the same point as ourselves, at any moment. Now if we

should fall in with a ship, would you wish me to communicate with her

and ask her captain to place a navigating officer on board this brig, to

take her to Valparaiso; or would you prefer that I should take charge--

with Chips, here, as mate--and navigate you to Valparaiso myself?"

"Speakin' for myself," answered the carpenter, promptly, "I don't want

nobody better'n what you are, Mr Leslie, in command of this here

hooker. We knows you, sir; and we've seen what you can do--we've took

your measure, sir--if you'll forgive the liberty of my plain speakin'--

and we're all agreed as you're a prime seaman--one o' the best as _I've_

ever sailed under--and I'd a precious sight sooner see you in command

than what I would a stranger. And, if I ain't mistook, that's the

feelin' with all hands of us. Am I right, mates, or ain't I?"

"Right you are, Chips; no stranger for me."

"Mr Leslie's the skipper for us; we don't want nobody else." Thus, and

in similar terms, the entire crew expressed their perfect agreement with

the view enunciated by the carpenter; and there and then the matter was

settled.

It was with a very considerable amount of trepidation that, next

morning, Leslie undertook the task of communicating to Miss Trevor the

news of Purchas's death--taking care to suppress the full horror of the

tragedy by simply stating that the unfortunate fellow had committed

suicide by jumping overboard, omitting all mention of the shark. But

although the girl was naturally much shocked at the occurrence of a

second death on board, following so quickly upon that of Potter, this

was the full extent of her emotion; Purchas was not at all the sort of

man to appeal to her or to arouse in her any sort of interest or feeling

beyond that of disgust at his weakness in surrendering himself to the

seduction of so degrading a vice as that of drink; and she received the

information quite calmly, much to her companion's relief.

Meanwhile, and quite contrary to expectation, the breeze again freshened

an hour or so before sunrise, with the result that when Leslie took his

observation at noon he found that the brig was within a mile of crossing

the equator. And, what was a much more remarkable circumstance, the

horizon was still absolutely bare, not a single sail of any description

being in sight, even from the main royal-yard!

Upon ascertaining this last disconcerting fact, Leslie turned to Miss

Trevor, who was on deck, and said--

"Fate appears to have a grudge against you, and to be determined that

you shall not yet leave us. I had confidently reckoned upon falling in

with something hereabout to which I could transfer you; but the

continuance of this breeze--which most sailors would regard as a stroke

of marvellous good fortune--has enabled everything bound south to slip

across the Line without suffering the exasperating experience of a more

or less prolonged period of calm; while, as your ill-luck will have it,

there happens to be nothing northward-bound on the spot just when we are

most anxious to meet it. Furthermore, every mile that we now sail will

lessen your chance of effecting a trans-shipment, because our course

will be ever diverging from that of northward-bound shipping. Of

course, now that I am in command, I can continue to steer for a day or

two longer in such a direction as may enable us, with luck, still to

fall in with a homeward-bounder, but--"

"Is my presence on the ship then, so _very_ embarrassing to you, Mr

Leslie?" she interrupted with the ghost of a smile. "It would certainly

appear so; for the burden of your conversation, ever since we came on

board, has been my trans-shipment!"

"Embarrassing!" ejaculated Leslie, in extreme surprise. "Most certainly

not; on the contrary--" he interrupted himself. "That is not the point

at all," he continued. "I have assumed--very naturally, I think--that

you are anxious either to return home and make a fresh start, or else to

continue your outward journey, according as circumstances may determine;

and I, on my part, have been most anxious to meet what I conceived to be

your wishes. But, as to your presence aboard the brig being an

_embarrassment_ to me, I assure you that the longer you are compelled to

remain here, the better I shall be pleased."

"Thank you," answered the girl; "I suppose I must accept that admission

as a compliment. Well, Mr Leslie, of course you are quite right in

assuming that, if a favourable opportunity should offer, I would gladly

avail myself of it. But my greatest anxiety is to allay that of my

friends; which, I imagine, they will not begin to experience until some

little time has elapsed after the date at which the _Golden Fleece_

might reasonably be expected to reach Melbourne. And about that time I

should think we ought to be at Valparaiso, ought we not? Very well. In

that case, it will be easy for me to despatch from there a reassuring

cable message to my Australian friends, following it up with a letter of

explanation, and all will be well. Moreover, though you would perhaps

never suspect it, I am of a decidedly roving and adventurous

disposition, and I shall not at all object to visiting Valparaiso; you

need, therefore, worry yourself no further upon that feature of the

matter. But, of course, if you would rather not have me--"

"Pray say no more, I beg you," interrupted Leslie. "Your continued

presence on board this brig can only be a source of the keenest pleasure

and satisfaction to me; and if you can be content to remain, I shall be