The three went on deck and walked aft till they were quite alone.

Yet the ship drew clear, and so into the open water beyond the point; but I had seen something as we scraped against the weed, a sudden glimpse of white, gliding among the growth, and then I saw others, and, in a moment, I was down on the main-deck, and running aft to the bo'sun; yet midway along the deck a horrid shape came above the starboard rail, and I gave out a loud cry of warning.

The schooner felt the impulse, the bow swinging sharply to port, and I turned and took a few steps aft, thinking to gauge our progress by the wake astern.

Here Abbey disembarked, after taking the trouble to come aft and shake hands with polite farewell.

Cotillons are a leading pastime among the people; and as the water was pretty smooth down the bay, and a splendid breeze rushed aft between-decks, many laughing girls and well-dressed matronly women now made their appearance on the floor.

But when we stood idle, while Sam went aft for instructions, I had recovered sufficient nerve to turn my eyes in that direction, only to observe that the young woman sat with head turned away, gazing out over the rail at the shore, her chin cupped in her hands, her thoughts apparently far away.

The negro, Sam, alone was awake, baling steadily, his face turned aft, although scarcely glancing up from his labor.

You seemed quite content to stand aft here and look on.

I halted at the closed scuttle of the forecastle, for from there I could have my choice of getting aft again along either rail.

This was soon done, and the new sail was got up, and the sheet hauled aft.

'Ah!' as a blaze of light sprang out about half a mile aft, 'that's why they stopped firing.

Recalling this, he suddenly but quietly stepped away aft, to sit beside the steersman, and smile in the darkness.

Surely not, yet the boat had to leap forward, and then turn broadside too, as it swept aft toward the main chains, before I succeeded in seeing what remained partially concealed between the thwarts in its bottom.

Then, the bo'sun whipped in his oar under the cover, and, reaching forward, drew the canvas aft, so that it covered the entire boat, and he held it down against the gunnel upon the starboard side, shouting in my ear to do likewise upon the larboard.

The lads, saturated with moisture, and in anything but good humor, were soon restored to cheerfulness, and I left them, sitting about on deck and returned aft, where Dorothy, aroused by the noise, stood, well wrapped up, near the rail.

" While he was speaking, he darted lightly aft, and I followed.

As she answered to her helm and payed off, bringing the wind aft, high land was seen astern.

"I have come to secure a berth aft," said Captain Nugent.

"Yes, an' yer might find another aft, if yer looked fer it.

He passed his time in devising schemes of vengeance, and when Captain Hardy, relenting, offered him a cabin aft, he sent back such a message of refusal that the steward spent half an hour preparing a paraphrase.

"Send the men aft, Mr. Thompson," said the captain, as he paced the deck to and fro, casting his eyes occasionally on the schooner, which was rapidly nearing the vessel.

Yet, in one matter, I availed myself of my former position; for I chose to live aft, and by this was abled to see much of my sweetheart, Mistress Madison.

" Bringing to light some spare coils of rope from the lockers, he put a clove-hitch on the standing part of the sea-anchor hawser, and carried the new running-line aft, making it fast to the stern bitts.

"Der's a feller on ther gratin' amidships, Captain," he said pointing aft.

The constant rising and setting of the boats prevented my making very minute observations with the glass; but I distinguished the face of my second-mate, who was sitting aft, and I could see he was steering with one hand and bailing with the other.