The _Petrel’s_ surgeon very gallantly informed me that I owed my complete recovery to a certain amount of very gentle nursing I had received, and not entirely to my robust constitution. As he had done little more than prescribe for me and oversee the dressing of my wound, it was evident that he did not wish to take this obligation to himself. As to the nursing, I quite agreed with him, for the three weeks spent in a bunk on board the _Petrel_ were among the pleasantest of my existence--up to that time. When Miss Waters and I separated at Portsmouth, it was understood that I should meet her again in the States. When I was released, after the trial, I found that she had already sailed for New York. When Brown and I arrived there and had given an account of this disastrous voyage to Mr. Ropesend, it was only natural that I should inquire for the girl who had passed through so much along with us. To my great surprise, the old merchant announced that he had heard nothing of her whatever since she arrived in England. As soon as possible I hastened to the office of the line of vessels on which I had heard she had sailed. I found that the vessel on which she had left England had arrived safely ten days since. Her name was on the passenger list, showing that she had arrived in America, but all my efforts to trace her beyond the point of landing were useless. She had disappeared and had left no clue that might aid any one to follow her. CHAPTER XXIV. When a man makes up his mind to do a certain thing, half the trouble and worry over the matter are things of the past. It makes no difference whether he is able to accomplish his purpose or not, the agonies of vacillation are gone. Over the future he has but little control. Over his present actions he has complete. There is always a satisfied feeling within a man when he has thought over the matter and decided upon it absolutely in regard to what action he will take. This was the feeling I possessed during the six weeks I was on the beach, waiting for the return of the _Arrow_. Mr. Ropesend still had faith in me and I was to take her out on her return from the River Plate. The matter I had decided upon, however, was not exactly of a nautical nature, and I went to every known friend and acquaintance of Captain Crojack’s to get the information necessary to enable me to accomplish my purpose. The apathy of the old sailor’s friends shown in the search for his niece galled me. I sometimes felt almost glad that the old man was dead, so he could not see the indifference of people he once thought so much of. Brown, who was on waiting orders like myself, stayed with me night and day. He did not go to the office, and avoided all other society as much as possible, except when helping me in my search.