"Why, your honour, I scarcely knows what to say about
it; but seeing as I'm the only officer in the ship, now
our poor captain is killed, God bless him! I thought I
might take the liberty to consult with your honours as
to the best way of getting out of the jaws of them sharks
of Ingians; and two heads, as the saying is, is always
better than one."

"And now you have the advantage of three," observed the
officer, with a sickly smile; "but I fear, Mullins, that
if your own be not sufficient for the purpose, ours will
be of little service. You must take counsel from your
own experience and knowledge of nautical matters."

"Why, to be sure, your honour," and the sailor rolled
his quid from one cheek to the other, "I think I may say
as how I'll venture to steer the craft with any man on
the Canada lakes, and bring her safe into port too; but
seeing as how I'm only a petty officer, and not yet
recommended by his worship the governor for the full
command, I thought it but right to consult with my
superiors, not as to the management of the craft, but
the best as is to be done. What does your honour think
of making for the high land over the larboard bow yonder,
and waiting for the chance of the night-breeze to take
us through the Sinclair?"

"Do whatever you think best," returned the officer. "For
my part, I scarcely can give an opinion. Yet how are we