"We are thirty-two hours out, and have run three hundred and twenty miles, or ought to have run only that; but in the last twelve hours we have probably made from twenty-four to thirty-six miles more than that," continued the captain. "I will heave the log after breakfast, and that will give us a better idea, for we are still carrying the reefed foresail. Morris reported to me when he was relieved by the morning watch that he had started the sheets about two bells. We have the wind on the starboard quarter now, and it must help her somewhat. I should say that we had made three hundred and forty-four miles."
"Land, ho!" shouted Felix, who had gone out on the deck.
"Where away?" demanded Scott.
"On the beam," replied Felix.
"That is just where it ought to be," added Scott, as he turned to his chart. "We must be off Magrowa Point, where the mountains are close to the shore. Three hundred and forty-four miles must be the figure."
The captain and Felix went to breakfast, after which the log was heaved and it gave twelve knots. The Maud was now going along with comparative steadiness. The gale had entirely subsided, though the sea was not yet reduced to its former smooth condition. There was a gentle breeze, and Scott ordered the reef in the foresail to be shaken out. Don declared that they had burned too much coal while the wind was so fresh, and that they had reduced the quantity.
At four bells, when Louis took the wheel, the log was tried again, and it appeared that the old standard of ten knots had been restored in spite of the sail. But Scott had bent on the mainsail and jib while he, Felix, and Don were off watch, assisted by the steward. He had set all sail, and then the log gave eleven knots. He had hardly completed the job before the starboard watch were called to dine before they took the deck at eight bells. Morris was the lookout on the promenade deck, attending to the sails also.
"Sail, ho!" shouted he, standing over the pilot-house.
"Where away?" demanded Louis.
"Directly astern of us!" cried Morris.