But, between ourselves, I have taken the responsibility upon myself; I have already changed the tack to the south-west; we are now straight before the wind, and consequently we are sailing towards the coast." "I need hardly ask," I added; "whether any of the other passengers are at all aware of the imminent danger in which we are placed." "None of them," he said; "not in the least; and I hope you will not enlighten them.

We don't want terrified women and cowardly men to add to our embarrassment; the crew are under orders to keep a strict silence on the subject.

Silence is indispensable." I promised to keep the matter a profound secret, as I fully entered into Curtis's views as to the absolute necessity for concealment..