soon overtake them. Leaning over the boat's stern, he placed his cars as
near the surface of the water as possible and listened. This he repeated
several times, with increased earnestness, then partially shading his
eyes with his hands, he gazed back into the dim night air with intense
interest, while the rest in the boat regarded him silently, wondering
what could be the import of his movements.

"Either there is a big fish in our wake, or I hear the ripple of a
ship's cut-water. But I cannot see hull or canvass in this darkness,"
said the mate, after a brief but searching gaze in the direction from
whence they had come.

"It cannot be that you could hear the movement of a ship upon the water,
farther than you could see her even in this light," said the mother.

"It may have been the hauling of a ship's yards, or some rickety block,
but sound I did hear that came from on ship board," said the mate, with
assurance.

"See, see," said the daughter, at that moment, "what is that?" pointing
off nearly in the wake of the boat into the darkness.

"A ship!" said the mate, quickly; "a ship, as true as heaven!" adding,
"shout, shout together now, or she will run us down."

As he spoke, all eyes were bent on the dim object that was now fast
approaching them, and steering as nearly on the same course with
themselves as possible. Only a cloud of canvass was visible now, but
soon the dark hull of a vessel appeared, and the mate hastened to light
a lantern and hoist it to attract their attention. The signal was