hardly worth while to hang yourself in order to be called a fool!"

While this talk went on I remained silent, watching the illuminated
schooner with absorbed fascination. Suddenly, while I still gazed
upon her, every spark with which she was, as it were, bejewelled,
went out, and only the ordinary lamps common to the watches of the
night on board a vessel at anchorage burned dimly here and there
like red winking eyes. For the rest, she was barely visible save by
an indistinct tracery of blurred black lines. The swiftness with
which her brilliancy had been eclipsed startled us all and drew from
Captain Derrick the remark that it was 'rather queer.'

"What pantomimists call a 'quick change'"--said Mr. Harland, with a
laugh--"The show is over for to-night. Let us turn in. To-morrow
morning we'll try and make acquaintance with the stranger, and find
out for Captain Derrick's comfort how she managed to sail without
wind!"

We bade each other good-night then, and descended to our several
quarters.

When I found myself alone in the luxurious state-room 'suite'
allotted to me, the first thing I did was to open one of the port-
holes and listen to the music which still came superbly built,--
sailing vessels are always more elegant than steam, though not half
so useful. I expect she'll lie becalmed here for a day or two."

"It's a wonder she's got round here at all,"--said the captain--
"There wasn't any wind to bring her."