“While he was gone the Jane Ellen kept sailing on; and by the time he came back the Gateway showed even without the glass. And when Taffy had the glass steady once more and looked through it, he saw a dark speck on the water, outside the Lion’s head. He looked for a moment, then he called, ‘Bos’n!’
“‘Ay, ay, sir,’ said the Bos’n, coming up. Taffy handed him the glass.
“‘See what you make of that?’
“The Bos’n took the glass and looked carefully. Then he rubbed the small end with a loose fold of his shirt, and looked again.
“‘It looks to me like a brig, sir. She’s hove-to; and she’s lost some of her riggin’,’ he said.
“Taffy took the glass, and while he was looking, who should come along but the Captain! He had just stepped out of his cabin, and was surprised to see the island so near.
“‘Why are we here, Mr. Morganwg?’ he asked. ‘Aren’t we out of our course?’
“‘We are, sir, a little,’ said Taffy. ‘But that’s because the wind is sou’west-by-south. I thought we’d make better time this way.’
“‘And go by that Gateway, too,’ said the Captain; and he looked at the Bos’n and laughed. The Bos’n laughed too, so Taffy felt a wee bit foolish, and he thought he’d rather talk about something else. So he said, ‘There’s a ship lying over there, in distress.’
“‘Let me see,’ said the Captain, taking the glass. ‘Sure enough! We must go and see what is the matter.’”