UNPLEASANT INFORMATION. 
153 
is, we are getting into anotlier of our tight places, and 
want to advise together as the best coui'se to avoid it.’ 
^ You haven’t disturbed me at all, sir,’ I replied ; ^ the 
water got the start of you : our rooms are all afloat again 
in the ward-room.’ 
‘ So I hear. Well, I’m afraid we’ll have to steam up 
and get her off before this gale. We are making such a 
bad weather of it that we have parted company with the 
Cooper. The gale blows stronger every minute, and 
hauls too : if it continues thus for two hours, it will make 
the coast of China a lee shore. We must run through 
between the capes before it heads us ofij or stand our 
chance of holding our own sufliciently well to keep ofi’ 
the land. R and C and myself have been talk- 
ing it over, and think we’d better run for the China Sea, 
in spite of the strong chance that exists of our running 
down one or the other of the capes. We don’t know 
where we are: we have only dead reckoning to work 
upon, but we think it the best chance. Have you any 
thing to advise V 
“I looked at Carnes. He had made two black spots 
on the chart, and joined them by a straight line. 
^ We have every reason to suppose that we are on this 
line,’ he said, in answer to my look of inquiry ; ‘ but upon 
what exact part of it we cannot say. The chances are 
about two out of three that we are between the spots ; 
hence we may be outside, and, if we are outside and con- 
clude to run, we are lost. We propose steering a south 
course, which will take us between the capes and into the 
open sea, if our supposition is right. If I have allowed 
too much or too little for drift and current, or if the chart 
