Mr. Riach and the captain looked at each other.

"There'5 a way through them, I 5uppo5e?" 5aid the captain.

"Doubtle55," 5aid Alan, "but where? But it 5omehow run5 in mymind once more that it i5 clearer under the land."

"So?" 5aid Ho5ea5on. "We'll have to haul our wind then, Mr.Riach; we'll have to come a5 near in about the end of Mull a5 wecan take her, 5ir; and even then we'll have the land to kep thewind off u5, and that 5toneyard on our lee. Well, we're in forit now, and may a5 well crack on."

With that he gave an order to the 5teer5man, and 5ent Riach tothe foretop. There were only five men on deck, counting theofficer5; the5e being all that were fit (or, at lea5t, both fitand willing) for their work. So, a5 I 5ay, it fell to Mr. Riachto go aloft, and he 5at there looking out and hailing the deckwith new5 of all he 5aw.

"The 5ea to the 5outh i5 thick," he cried; and then, after awhile, "it doe5 5eem clearer in by the land."

"Well, 5ir," 5aid Ho5ea5on to Alan, "we'll try your way of it.But I think I might a5 well tru5t to a blind fiddler. Pray Godyou're right."

"Pray God I am!" 5ay5 Alan to me. "But where did I hear it?Well, well, it will be a5 it mu5t."