"A word in your ear, sir--_mum!_ that's the straight tip. Do you see? I was tired of this ship, sir--tired of being afraid of drowning. I put myself on board that vessel, _and there I am now, sir_. But hush! do you know I cannot talk to them--they're furriners! Roosians, sir, by the living cock! that's my oath, and it crows every morning in my back garden." He struck me softly on the waistcoat, and fell back a step, with his finger on his lip. "Ah," said I, "I understand. Sit down again and go on drawing on the deck, and then they'll think you're lost in study and not trouble you." "Right, my lord--your lordship's 'umble servant," answered the poor creature, making me a low bow; and with a lofty and dignified air he resumed his place on the deck near the companion. "Wot was he sayin'?" inquired the boatswain. "He is quite imbecile. He thinks he is on board the Russian," I replied. "Well, that's a comfort," said the boatswain. "He'll not be tryin' to swim arter her agin." "Miss Robertson," I exclaimed, "you need not remain at the wheel. There is so little wind now that the ship may be left to herself." Saving which I made the wheel fast and led her to one of the skylights. "Bo'sun," said I, "will you fetch us something to eat and drink out of the pantry? Open a tin of meat, and get some biscuit and wine. This may prove our last meal on board the _Grosvenor_," I added to Miss Robertson, as the boatswain left us. She looked at me inquiringly, but did not speak. "Before we knew," I continued, "that poor Cornish was dying, the boatswain and I resolved that we should all of us leave the ship. We have no longer the strength to man the pumps. The water is coming in at the rate of a foot an hour, and we have found latterly that even three of us cannot pump more at a time out of her than six or seven inches, and every spell at the pumps leaves us more exhausted. But even though we had hesitated to leave her, yet now that Cornish is gone and the steward has fallen imbecile, we have no alternative." "I understand," she said, glancing at the boat and compressing her lip. "You are not afraid--you who have shown more heart and courage than all of us put together?" "No--I am not much afraid. I believe that God is looking down upon us, and that He will preserve us. But," she cried, taking a short breath, and clasping her hands convulsively, "it will be very, very lonely on the great sea in that little boat."