That would not have been a pleasant announcement to the captain of the 'Aurora'at any time, but its unpleasantness was vastly increased by the fact that it greetedhim near the termination of what had been, up to that point of time, an exceedinglyprosperous voyage. "Are you sure, Davis?" asked the captain; "try again." He gave the order under the influence of that feeling which is styled "hopingagainst hope," and himself accompanied the ship's carpenter to see it obeyed. "Six feet two inches," was the result of this investigation. The vessel, a large English brig, had sprung a leak, and was rolling heavily in asomewhat rough sea off the east coast of Africa. It was no consolation to hercaptain that the shores of the great continent were visible on his lee, because atremendous surf roared along the whole line of coast, threatening destruction toany vessel that should venture to approach, and there was no harbour of refugenigh.