And so the day wore away. In the evening the fog lifted; but nothing could be seen of the two schooners, for they were far on their way to Madeira. But O’Hara was not quite satisfied to undertake such an enterprise as had been agreed upon, until it was no longer possible to confer with the vice-principals of the squadron. As the night was clear, he decided to run for three hours to the south-west, and return if he found nothing of the rest of the fleet. At midnight, when the steamer was over forty miles from the Castle William, nothing could be seen of the lights of the Josephine and Tritonia; and, very unwillingly, he ordered the Ville d’Angers to be headed to the north-east. After a run of less than three hours, the wreck was readily found, for lights were exhibited on board as before she lost her masts. Raymond, who was in charge of the deck of the Ville d’Angers, hailed the wreck, and was answered by Mr. Frisbone. The wind was freshening, but the sea was tolerably smooth. O’Hara was still up, though he had taken a little nap, and directed the steamer to be run as close as possible to the hulk; and a small line was heaved to her deck by Shakings. With this the heavy hawser of the ship was drawn over the stern of the steamer, where it was made fast. While the boatswain was attending to the securing of the hawser, O’Hara and the Prince had some talk about the condition of the sick. They were all comfortable; and Mrs. Frisbone had worked out a revolution in the state of things between decks. The captain laughed when the Prince said he had been at work whitewashing since he came on board. When the hawser was ready, O’Hara gave the order to go ahead; and the steamer started on her voyage to England. CHAPTER XVI. THE WINE-ROOM OF THE VILLE D’ANGERS. The Ville d’Angers had been under way hardly an hour when the quartermaster in the pilot-house struck eight bells; and the first part of the port-watch was called to relieve the second part of the starboard. Gregory was the officer of this division, as Raymond had been of the last. “North, half east,” said Raymond, giving the course to his successor in charge of the vessel. “North, half east!” exclaimed Gregory; and though it was his duty to repeat the course as it was given to him, in order to prevent any mistake, it was not necessary for him to say it with such a tone of disgust. “That’s the course we have been running for the last hour,” replied Raymond quietly. “The officer of the deck will keep a sharp lookout for the tow.” “For the tow?” queried Gregory, as the fourth officer repeated the orders which were required to be given to his successor in charge of the deck. “What do you mean by the tow?” “Of course you are aware that the steamer is towing the hulk of the Castle William?” “I was not aware of it,” answered Gregory. “When I turned in at four bells last night, the steamer was headed to the southward and westward.”