TWO DAYS AT SEA » 123

The wind had then fallen. The ship, which was a
three-masted merchant vessel, was engaged in furling
her top-sails. It was useless to expect a breeze before
morning, and on the morrow the three-master would
necessarily be in the same place. The dba, worked by
her mysterious propeller, continued to approach the
stranger.

When night began to fall the two vessels were not more
than a mile and a half apart.

Our captain then came to where I was standing,
and without any ceremony ordered me to go to my cabin.

I could only obey. However, before leaving the deck
I observed that the boatswain had not ordered the position
lights to be shown, though the three-master was already
showing hers—a green light on the port, a red light on
the starboard side.

I had no doubt the yacht intended to slip past the
stranger unperceived, Her speed had been lessened, but
her course was not altered.’ I calculated that the Edda
had made two hundred miles to the eastward since the
night before. I entered my cabin with a vague feeling of
apprehension. My supper was on the table, but I was
uneasy, I knew not why, and scarcely touched it. I went
to bed and waited for the sleep that would not come.

This state of disquiet lasted for two hours. .The silence
was broken only by the quivering of the schooner, the
murmur of the water as it lapped against the hull, and the

slight motion as we passed over the surface of that peaceful
sea.