The information given him by the captain that the Maud was in sight was like a bolt of electricity shot into the being of Louis. His mother was actually near him again, and his bosom bounded with the violent emotions which agitated him. The commander only made his announcement at the door of the stateroom, and was gone in a moment. The young man was filled with hope that he should soon be in his mother’s arms, and he did not stop to consider the many difficulties that were still in the way. He dressed himself very hurriedly in his common suit, for he knew not what his next mission in the object of his existence might prove to be. As he had been since the abduction of his mother, he was ready for anything that might come. There were sixteen picked seamen on the forecastle, besides the officers, engineers, and quartermasters. Every person on board comprehended the mission of the Guardian-Mother, for nothing else had been talked about since the young owner came on board of the steamer. All hands were interested in the story told of him and his mother, and there was not a single one of them who was not anxious to assist in the recovery of the lady. Louis put on his overcoat, and made sure that his revolver was in condition for immediate use, though he hoped there would be no occasion for such a weapon. He hastened on deck as soon as he had made his hurried preparations. The motion of the vessel was more violent than it had been the night before when he left the deck. The air was heavy with moisture, which felt like fog, though he could see none. The wind was directly ahead, and the steamer was pitching smartly in the heavy sea. The wind had gone around to the opposite quarter, and Louis thought it was blowing more than half a gale, as the captain measured it the day before. “You are getting it rough this morning, Captain Ringgold,” said the owner, as he entered the pilot-house. “Good-morning, Mr. Belgrave; but I hope you don’t call this very rough,” replied the commander, peering out at the ocean ahead of the vessel. “Rougher than I have seen it before on this trip,” added Louis. “But I don’t see the Maud.” “You must have a pair of good nautical eyes to see her under present circumstances; but I have made her out, and I am certain that she is not far ahead of us,” said the commander, levelling his spy-glass at the open window. “I can’t make her out now, for the air is full of streaks of fog, which may settle down upon us, and bury us out of sight.” “That would be unfortunate,” suggested the owner. “Perhaps not; it may be a good thing for us. But I am confident that Scoble is heading too far to the westward,” said Captain Ringgold anxiously, though he did not communicate his fears to his owner.