The fact was, that the same gale which had made a wreck of the Indiaman,
had driven the "Sea Witch" two days' sail or more out of her course, and
had thus brought her in sight of the Bengal at that critical moment when
it would have been impossible to have rendered her the least assistance.
The continuance of the gale had carried the ship far to the southward,
from whence she was now returning.

It was early morning upon the day succeeding that auspicious night for
the party in the boat, that Miss Huntington and her mother made their
appearance upon the quarter-deck, and tendered their thanks for the
service rendered. Captain Ratlin received them there with a frank, manly
air, assured them of full protection, and that he would land them at
some port from whence they could take ship for England. A very few hours
placed him on the best of terms with his passengers, for there was that
frank, and open discourse of manner with him, which his countenance
promised, while he felt irresistibly drawn towards the gentle and
beautiful girl whose protector he had thus strangely and suddenly
become. Not one point of her sweet beauty was lost upon the young
commander, and her every word and movement he seemed to dwell upon, and
to consider with a tenacious degree of interest.

On her part, Miss Huntington looked upon him as her preserver, and did
not hesitate to accord him that confidence which the circumstances of
her situation would so naturally lead to, being delighted and
entertained by the sketches he gave her of sea life and wild adventure
upon the ocean, elicited by her suggestion. The mother, too, was
well-pleased with the profound respect and polite attention which
herself and daughter received from him, and accorded him that cordial
countenance in his intercourse with her child which placed him quite at