“Well, every one crowded around the old woman to hear what she would say, and they asked her if all was over, and whether they should have any wind? and her reply was, ’When the three birds come from the sea to replace those which were killed.’  For you see, pilot, if one of these birds is killed, it is certain that some one of the crew must die and be thrown overboard to become a Mother Carey chicken, and replace the one that has been destroyed.  Well, after a time, although we never saw them rise, three Mother Carey’s chickens were seen dipping and flying about astern of the schooner; and they told old Etau, who said, ’You’ll have wind and plenty—­and plenty of waves to make up for the calm;’ and so they had sure enough, for it came on almost a hurricane, and the schooner scudded before it under bare poles until she arrived at Antigua, with her bulwarks washed away, and a complete wreck.  I was there at the time, and old Mason, who was on board, told me the story, and asked me to take him, as he would not remain on board of the schooner.  And now I leave you to judge, after knowing this to be a fact, whether I was not right in preventing Mr. Higgins from shooting the Mother Carey chickens?”

“Why, yes,” replied I, “with such a fact before my eyes, I should have done the same.”

Mr. Higgins not venturing to kill any of these receptacles for the souls of departed seamen, we arrived safely at the Downs, where I gave up charge to a river pilot, for the other vessels which Bramble and our companions had taken charge of were all bound to the Downs, and arrived at nearly the same time that I did, and we had agreed to embark again in the galley, and run out in quest of the remainder of the convoy.

This we did on the following day, much to the vexation of Bessy, who declared we only came on shore to be off again.

I ought to observe that Bessy and I had become much more intimate since the explanation which had taken place; and although it never entered my head that I should ever feel toward her more than as a brother to a sister, I was pleased and soothed with the touching proofs of kindness and commiseration which she took every opportunity of showing toward me.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

     A heavy Gale, a Wreck, and a Rescue.

We had run out in our galley as far as the Start, when the appearance of the weather became very threatening.  It was just about the time of the equinoctial gales, and there was a consultation among us whether we should run into Torquay or return to Deal.