The order was obeyed, and all listened intently. Presently there was a general exclamation as the sound of footsteps was heard ahead. “That is a marine pacing up and down on sentry. Give way, lads.” In a few minutes a black mass rose up close in front of them. The coxswain put the helm down, and the boat glided along the side of the ship. As she did so there came the sharp challenge of a sentry: “Who goes there? Answer, or I fire.” “It is all right, my man; it is Captain Nelson.” “Wait till I call the watch, Captain Nelson,” the sentry replied in the monotonous voice of his kind. “Very well, sentry, you are quite right to do your duty.” In half a minute an officer’s voice was heard above, and a lantern was shown over the side. “Is it you, sir?” he asked. “Yes; what ship is this?” “The _Romulus_.” “Can you lend me a compass?” “Yes, sir, I will fetch one in a moment.” “Thank you!” Nelson said when the officer returned with the instrument. “I have lost my bearings in the fog, and I want to get to my tent on shore. I know its exact bearings, however, from this ship.” Twenty minutes’ row brought them to the landing-place. Nelson’s first thought was for the crew, and, going to the storehouse close at hand, he knocked some of the people up, and saw that they were supplied with plenty of food and drink. Then he went into his tent. Here the table was spread, with various kinds of food standing on it. His servant being called up, a kettle was boiled, and he and Will sat down to a hearty meal. “Do you know what has been said about us in our absence, Chamfrey?” Nelson asked his servant. “No, sir; everything has been upset by this fog. They sent down from the batteries to enquire where you and Mr. Gilmore were, and we could only say that we supposed you were on board the ship. They sent from the ships to ask, and we could only say that we didn’t know, but supposed that you were somewhere up in the batteries. Some thought, when you did not return this afternoon, that you had lost your way in the fog; but no one seemed to think that anything serious could have happened to you.” Nelson got up and went to where the boat’s crew were sitting after having finished their meal. “Coxswain, here are two guineas for yourself and a guinea for each of the men. Now I want every man of you to keep his mouth tightly shut about what has happened. I promise you that if any man blabs he will be turned out of my gig. You understand?” “Yes, sir,” they replied together. “You can trust us to keep our mouths shut. We will never say a word about it.”