"I'm going to keep a lookout for the ledges, which are ahead of us; and as I have to use my ears, I must ask you not to speak to me any more. Excuse me, but I might not hear the breakers soon enough, if I were talking," added the pilot.
Rosabel excused him, and returned to the cabin, for the cold fog made her shiver, even within her bundle of clothing. Leopold listened with all his might, and in less than half an hour he heard the surges on the ledges, faintly, at first, in the distance.
"Breakers ahead!" shouted Captain Bounce.
"I know it; trust your best friend and don't be alarmed," replied Leopold. "There is water enough here to float a seventy-four."
He allowed the Orion to proceed on her course, till he could hear very distinctly the breakers on the ledges, and was sure they were the High Rock ledges.
"Starboard the helm, and start your sheets," shouted the pilot.
"High time, I should say," growled Captain Bounce, as he gave the necessary orders, and the Orion fell off to her new course.
"Keep her north-west," added Leopold, as he just saw the ledges whitened with sea foam.
He still retained his position on the bowsprit, with his attention fixed upon some point on the weather-bow.
"That's it! Dip point!" said he, as he listened to the breakers. "Keep her nor'-nor'-west!"