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The prospect； in the morning was not cheering。 Gray clouds
covered the sky and seemed to come down almost on to the water；
the angry sea was crested with white heads； and it； seemed to
Vincent wonderful that the boat should live in such a sea。
〃Now； Dan； wake yourself up and get some breakfast；〃 Vincent
said； stirring up the negro with his foot。
〃Oh Lor'！〃 Dan groaned； raising himself into a sitting position from
the bottom of the boat； 〃dis am awful； we neber see the shore no
more； massa。〃
〃Nonsense； man；〃 Vincent said cheerily； 〃we are getting on
capitally。〃
〃It hab been an awful night； sah。〃
〃An awful night！ You lazy rascal； you slept like a pig all night；
while I have been baling the boat and looking out for you。 It is
your turn now； I can tell you。 Well； do you feel ready for your
breakfast？〃
Dan； after a moment's consideration； declared that he was。 The
feeling of seasickness had passed off； and except that he was wet
through and miserable； he felt himself again； and could have eaten
four times the allowance of food that Vincent handed him。 A
pannikin of rum and water did much to restore his life and vitality；
and he was soon； with the light…heartedness of his race； laughing
and chatting cheerfully。
〃How long dis go on； you tink； sah？〃
〃Not long； I hope； Dan。 I was afraid last night it was going to be a
big gale； but I do not think it is blowing so hard now as it； was in
the night。〃
〃Where have we get to now； sah？〃
〃I don't exactly know； Dan； but I do not suppose that we are very
many miles away from shore。 The mast and oars prevent our
drifting fast； and I don't think we are further off now than we were
when we left that ship yesterday。 But even if we were four or five
times as far as that； we should not take very long in sailing back
again when the wind drops； and as we have got enough to eat for a
week we need not be uncomfortable about that。〃
〃Not much food for a week； Massa Vincent。〃
〃Not a very great deal； Dan； but quite enough to keep us going。
You can make up for lost time when you get to shore again。〃
In a few hours it was certain that the wind was going down。 By
midday the clouds began to break up； and an hour later the sun was
shining brightly。 The wind was still blowing strongly； hr t the sea
had a very different appearance in the bright light of the sun to that
which it had borne under the canopy of dark gray clouds。 Standing
'up in the boat two hours later； Vincent could see no signs of land。
〃How shall we find our way back； Massa Vincent？〃
〃We have got a compass； besides； we should manage very well
even if we had not。 Look at the sun； Dan。 There it； is right ahead
of us。 So； you know； that's the west…that's the way we have to go。〃
〃That very useful oh de sun； sah； but suppose we not live in de
west do sun not point de way den。〃
〃Oh； yes； he would； just the same； Dan。 We should know whether
to go away from him； or to keep him en the right hand or on the
left。〃
This was beyond Dan。 〃And I s'pose the moon will show de way at
night； massa？〃
〃The moon would show the way if she were 'up； but she is not
always up； but I have got a compass here； and so whether we have
the sun or the moon； or neither of them； I can find my way back to
land。〃
Dan had never seen a compass； and for an hour amused himself
turning it round and round and trying to get it to point in some
other direction than the north。
〃Now； Dan；〃 Vincent said at last； 〃give me that compass； and get
out the food。 We will have a better meal than we did this morning；
for now that the wind is going down there's no chance of food
running short。 When we have had dinner we will get up the sail
again。 The sea is not so rough as it was； and it is certainly not so
high as it was before we lowered the sail yesterday。〃
〃De waves berry big； massa。〃
〃They are big； Dan； but they are not so angry。 The heads are not
breaking over as they did last night； and the boat will go better
over those long waves than she did through the choppy sea at the
beginning of the gale。〃
Accordingly the bundle of spars was pulled up alongside and
lifted。 The mast was set up and the sail hoisted。 Dan in a few
minutes forgot his fears and lost even his sense of uneasiness as he
found the boat mounted wave after wave without shipping water。
Several times； indeed； a shower of spray flew high up in the air；
but the gusts no longer buried her so that the water came over the
gunwale； and it was a long time before there was any occasion to
use the baler。 As the sun set it could be seen that there was a dark
line between it and the water。
〃There is the land； Dan； and I do not suppose it is more than
twenty miles away； for most of the coast lies low。〃
〃But how we find do York River； massa？ Will de compass tell you
dat？〃
〃No； Dan。 I don't know whether we have drifted north or south of
it。 At ordinary times the current runs up the coast； but the wind
this morning was blowing from the north of west； and may have
been doing so all through the night for anything I know。 Well； the
great thing is to make land。 We are almost sure to come across
some fishing…boats； but； if not； we must run ashore and find a
house。〃
They continued sailing until Vincent's watch told him it was
twelve o'clock； by which time the coast was quite close。 The wind
now almost dropped； and； lowering their sail； they rowed in until；
on lowering the anchor； they found that it touched the ground。
Then they lay down and slept； till morning。 Dan was the first to
waken。
〃Dar are some houses dere close down by the shore； sah； and some
men getting out a boat；。〃
〃That's all right； Dan；〃 Vincent said as he roused himself and
looked over。 〃We shall learn soon where we are。〃
In a quarter of an hour the fishing…boat put off； and the lads at once
rowed to it。
〃How far are we from the mouth of the York River？〃 Vincent
asked the two negroes on board。
〃About twenty miles； sah。 Where you come from？〃
〃We were off the month of the river； and were blown off in the
gale。〃
〃You tink yourself berry lucky you get back；〃 one of them said。
〃Berry foolish to go out like dat when not know how to get back。〃
〃Well； we have managed to get back now； you see； and none the
worse for it。 Now； Dan； up with the sail again。〃
There was a light wind off shore； and all the reefs being shaken out
the boat ran along fast。
〃I should think we are going about five miles an hour； Dan。 We
ought to be off the mouth of the river in four hours。 We must look
out sharp or else we shall pass it； for many of these islets look just
like the mouth of the river。 However； we are pretty sure to pass
several fishing…boats on our way； and we shall be able to inquire
from them。〃
There was no need； however； to do this。 It was just the four hours
f