THE APPRCNTICE. 23 Tropic of Caprîcom, and the equatorîal currcnt driving him on westwards, would entail a delay that might bc serious. It was principally on Mrs. Weldon's account that the Cap- tain began to feel uneasiness, and he made up his mind that if he could bail a vessel proceeding to America he should ad- vîse bis passengers to embark on her ; unfortunately, how- ever, he felt that they were still in a latitude far too much to the south to make it likely that they should sight a steamer going to Panama ; and at that date, communication between Australia and the New World was much less fré- quent than it has since become. Still, nothing occurred to interrupt the gênerai monotony of the voyage until the 2nd of February, the date at which our narrative commences. It was about nine o'clock in the mornîng of that day that Dick and little Jack had pcrched themselves togethcr on the top-mast-yards. The weather was very clear, and they could see the horizon right round except the section behind them, hîdden by the brigantine-sail on the main-mast. Below them, the bowsprit seemed to lie along the water with its stay-sails attached like three unequal wings ; from the lads* feet to the deck was the smooth surface of the fore-mast ; and above their heads nothing but the small top-sail and the top-mast. The schooner was running on the larboard tack as close to the wind as possible. Dick Sand was pointing out to Jack how well the shîp was ballasted, and was trying to explain how it was impossible for her to capsize, howcver much she hceled to starboard, when suddenly the little fcllow cricd out, —
- I can see somcthing in the water ! '*
" Where ? what ? " exclaimed Dick, clambering to his feet upon the yard. "There!" said the child, directing attention to the portion of the sea-surface that was visible between the stay-sails. Dick fixed his gaze intently for a moment, and then shouted out lustily, —
- Look out in front, to starboard ! There is somcthing
afloat To wîndward, look out ! **
