"No, no," answered Mr Henley; "they are both villains, but of a different stamp. The low, brutal Englishman and the keen, cunning Yankee have few feelings in common. The latter looks upon all the world as his prey; the former commits an atrocity for the sake of some especial revenge, or to attain some particular object of sensual gratification. We have only traitors on board to guard against, of that I am certain." "What do you propose to do, then?" I asked. "Put the ship's head off shore, and try and get a good offing," he answered. "But go aloft, and see what you can make out of the land." I gladly obeyed, and went to the fore-topgallant mast-head. There I saw clearly to the east and south-east of us a long blue irregular line, which I took to be highland with a mountainous range beyond. Having arranged in my mind in what words I should make my report, so as best to make Mr Henley understand what I had seen, I descended on deck. I have always found it very useful to settle on the spot exactly the terms I would use to describe an object, so as to give those to whom I have had to report the clearest view of it. "I suspect that there is some extent of lowland between us and the mountains you have seen," observed Mr Henley. "Report the facts to the captain, and say that I am about to haul the ship up to the south-west." I heard Mr Henley issue the order to brace up the yards as I was about to enter the captain's cabin. I could scarcely make him comprehend what had occurred. "Make it so. Tell the second mate to do what he thinks best," he answered, and then turned round and went off into a deep slumber again. I told Mr Henley. "That is well; I will take him at his word," he observed. "We will now have a look at the compass." Fortunately Johnny Spratt was at the helm. He took off the top of the binnacle, and examined it carefully in every direction. "I thought so," he exclaimed at last, unscrewing a piece of steel which had been secured to the west of the northern points, giving it a strong westerly variation.