"Owen," he said at length, "I am afraid that my days are numbered. I should have been thankful had I lived to carry the ship into port, but God may will it otherwise. If I die, when you get home, see my poor widow, and deliver to her such property as I possess. She will not be left as well off as I should wish. I have not been as prudent as I ought to have been." "You may trust that to me, sir, and I will do the best I can," answered Owen; "but perhaps you are not so ill as you suppose. Let me call the doctor, and he may give you something to restore your strength." "Yes, call him; but I doubt if anything he can give me will do that," answered the captain. The doctor had turned in, but immediately rose on being summoned by Owen. He brought some medicine with him, which he at once gave to the captain on feeling his pulse. "You are a brave man, Captain Aggett," he said, "I will not disguise the truth from you. You are sinking. Any worldly matters you have to arrange should be settled without delay." "I have done that already, doctor," answered the captain, in a weak voice. "Who has the watch, Owen?" "The third mate, sir," he answered. "I will see the first and second mates then, as soon as they have finished their observations. Go and call them, Owen," said the captain. Owen hurried on deck. The second mate, with the assistance of the third, had just taken a satisfactory observation. Owen told Mr Grey that the captain wished to see him, but Mr Scoones had not made his appearance on deck. Owen found him in his berth, and gave him the captain's message. "Dying, is he? That's the lot of all men," observed the mate in an indifferent tone. Owen saw that, although not tipsy, he had been drinking, but hoped that the captain's last words would have a good effect. He therefore said-- "Come, sir, quickly, or I fear that Captain Aggett may be dead before you get to him." Unwilling to be absent longer than possible, he then hastened back to the cabin. The second mate was with the captain, who was weaker than before, although perfectly composed. He had been bidding Mr Grey farewell, and had been sending a few parting words to the officers and crew. The first mate soon appeared. "I wish to say good-bye, Mr Scoones," said the captain. "I am anxious about one point, and you will pardon me if I tell you what it is. I know you to be a first-rate seaman; you are one of those who never order a man to do what you are not ready to do yourself; but you are not a good navigator, for I have several times found that you have made mistakes in your calculations. I wish, therefore, when you take command of this ship that you should trust to Mr Grey's and Owen Hartley's calculations. Owen has had the advantage of a careful training, so that you have no cause to be jealous of him."