I24  .- FOR THE FLAG

My mind, haunted by the remembrance of all that had
happened during the last two days, could find no rest.
To-morrow afternoon we should be“ there.” To-morrow,
when my attendance on M. Roch was to begin again “if

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necessary,” as my captor had said.

After some time, about ten o’clock I think, I felt that
the schooner had stopped.

Why? When Captain Spade ordered me to leave the
deck there was no land in view.

The charts showed only the Bermudas in that direction,
and at nightfall we were fifty or sixty miles short of the
distance at which the look-out man could sight them.

Besides, not only was our progress suspended, but the
£bba was almost motionless. Scarcely the faintest roll
from side to side was to be felt. The swell was imper-
ceptible, and not a puff of wind passed over the sea.

My mind reverted to the trading vessel, a mile away
when I entered my cabin, If the schooner continued to

-bear down upon her she must have reached her, and now
there ought only to be one or two cable lengths between
the two ships, for the merchant vessel, which had been
becalmed before sunset, could not change her position.
She must be there, and if the night were clear I should see
her through the port-hole.

It occurred to me that I might avail myself of this
opportunity. Why should I not try to escape since all
hope of recovering my liberty was denied me? I cannot
swim, it is true; but after jumping into the sea with
one of the buoys on board, would it be impossible for