Look there, sir, o'er the weather taffrail, an' you'll see summat we pretty nearly ran foul of just now--it were a risky shave!" Captain Billings, somewhat puzzled by the boatswain thus "shoving his oar in" for a second time unasked, cast his eyes in the direction pointed out to him, where, now lighted up by the newly risen moon, could be distinctly seen the Penedo de San Pedro, with the surf breaking over it in sheets of silver foam.
He recognised the place in a moment, having passed close by the spot on a previous voyage; and he was greatly astonished at our being in its near vicinity now.
"Good gracious!" he ejaculated, "what an escape we must have had; but how came we near the place at all ?" "That I can't explain, sir," replied Jorrocks meaningly.

"Perhaps, though, as how there was something wrong in the ship's position on the chart to-day." "Ha, humph!" muttered the skipper to himself.

"This comes of my being ill and entrusting my duties to other hands; but I'll never do it again, I'll take care! Mr Macdougall," he added aloud, "I beg your pardon for what I said just now in the heat of the moment, and I hope you'll excuse it, as I was greatly flurried, and do not feel very well yet.

What position did you place the vessel in to-day, by the way, when you took your observation at noon ?" This was a ticklish question, and the mate hardly knew how to answer it, recollecting, as he did in an instant, what I had said--of our being much further westwards than the skipper thought.

Even if he did not agree with me, the point should have been referred to Captain Billings, as it so vitally concerned the interests of all on board.