"At his death, he bequeathed it to a crack-brained skipper of Montrose, who, under its influence, astounded the public by the discoveries he made."
"How?"
"He sent the spirit of the bottle, in the form of a woman—a clairvoyante—to pry aboard a war ship in the West Indies; to search for Sir John Franklin; to visit his family in heaven, and bring back locks of their hair; to inquire after numerous enemies, who had all gone to the other place—and all of which revelations he duly recorded as they came to pass, in a Scotch newspaper, to the great astonishment of the queen's lieges."
About twelve o'clock, Bartelot went on deck, and adjusted his night-glass to sweep the horizon; but so dark and hazy was the atmosphere, that a large ship might have been within three miles of the Princess and yet have been invisible from her deck; so, as the middle watch was Morrison's, he and Morley turned in, and soon were sound asleep.
At 4 P.M. the latter was awakened by the bell being struck, and the morning watch called.
"Is that you, Morrison?" asked Bartelot, from his berth, as a step was heard in the cabin.
"Yes, sir; I was just about to call you in haste."
"About that rascally brigantine?"
"No, sir."
"What is in sight, then??