"I should like something to drink, for my throat is like a limekiln. What's this?" he added, placing his hand over his bandaged face. "Have I had a cut?"
"Yes, a slight one," I replied. "Take it easy, and I'll send Johnston in with your breakfast."
I went out, and, having told our steward to take the stranger a good meal, I rejoined the pater and informed him that the man was awake.
"What are we going to do with him?" I asked.
"Put him aboard the first homeward-bound vessel we speak to, or else land him at Gib. Poor fellow, he's had a narrow squeak, but I cannot for the life of me understand why foolhardy fellows persist in taking, single-handed, risks in small yachts. When we had the 'Spray,' keeping in sight of land was good enough for me, and then only with a sharp eye on the barometer. Where he came from and where he was making for seems a mystery, but I suppose we shall know before long."
"How far have we come?" I asked, as I saw my father examine the indicator of the log.
"A hundred and fifty-six miles in twenty-three hours."
"And how far before we sight land?"
"Roughly, it is three hundred miles to Cape Finisterre, and then we shall be practically in sight of land right round the coast of Portugal and Spain till we reach Gib."
"And where's Uncle Herbert? I haven't seen him this morning."