Mrs. Budd was satisfied with this explanation, though she told Biddy that evening, that “locks and keys go together, and that the person who christened the island to which they were going, must have been very weak in his upper story.”  But these reflections on the intellects of her fellow-creatures were by no means uncommon with the worthy relict; and we cannot say that her remarks made any particular impression on her Irish maid.

In the mean time, the Mexican schooner behaved quite to Mulford’s satisfaction.  He thought her a little tender in the squalls, of which they had several that afternoon; but he remarked to Rose, who expressed her uneasiness at the manner in which the vessel lay over in one of them, that “she comes down quite easy to her bearings, but it is hard forcing her beyond them.  The vessel needs more cargo to ballast her, though, on the whole, I find her as stiff as one could expect.  I am now glad that I reefed, and reduced the head sails, though I was sorry at having done so when we first came out.  At this rate of sailing, we ought to be up with Key West by morning.”

But that rate of sailing did not continue.  Toward evening, the breeze lessened almost to a calm again, the late tornado appearing to have quite deranged the ordinary stability of the trades.  When the sun set, and it went down into the broad waters of the Gulf a flood of flame, there was barely a two-knot breeze, and Mulford had no longer any anxiety on the subject of keeping his vessel on her legs.  His solicitude, now, was confined to the probability of falling in with the Swash.  As yet, nothing was visible, either in the shape of land or in that of a sail.  Between the islets of the Dry Tortugas and the next nearest visible keys, there is a space of open water, of some forty miles in width.  The reef extends across it, of course; but nowhere does the rock protrude itself above the surface of the sea.  The depth of water on this reef varies essentially.  In some places, a ship of size might pass on to it, if not across it; while in others a man could wade for miles.  There is one deep and safe channel—­safe to those who are acquainted with it—­through the centre of this open space, and which is sometimes used by vessels that wish to pass from one side to the other; but it is ever better for those whose business does not call them in that direction, to give the rocks a good berth, more especially in the night.

Mulford had gleaned many of the leading facts connected with the channels, and the navigation of those waters, from Spike and the older seamen of the brig, during the time they had been lying at the Tortugas.  Such questions and answers are common enough on board ships, and, as they are usually put and given with intelligence, one of our mate’s general knowledge of his profession, was likely to carry away much useful information.  By conversations of this nature, and by consulting the charts, which Spike did not affect