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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Adrift in a Boat, by W.H.G. Kingston
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Adrift in a Boat
+
+Author: W.H.G. Kingston
+
+Release Date: October 17, 2007 [EBook #23048]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADRIFT IN A BOAT ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
+
+
+
+
+Adrift in a Boat, by W.H.G. Kingston.
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+This is not a very long book, but the story is a good one.  Several
+families have met together to have a picnic on a pleasant local beach.
+To everyone's delight they are joined by Harry Merryweather, a
+midshipman home on leave.  Harry and another youth, David Moreton, go
+for a wander round the rocks, but are cut off by the strong tide.  The
+weather then turns very nasty, but the boys are able to swim to a
+passing boat containing an old man, Jefferies, and his young grandson,
+Tristram.  The weather is now so bad they can't get back to the local
+harbour at Penmore.
+
+There is an accident and young Tristram is lost overboard, and drowned.
+
+They see a vessel, a brig, on her way down channel, but when they get to
+her they find she is an abandoned wreck.  More bad weather.  They are
+seen by a schooner about some bad business, who opens fire, probably to
+destroy an unwanted witness to some crime.  The brig is sinking.  They
+make a raft.  Old Jefferies dies.  They are picked up by a French
+schooner, which turns out to be a privateer.  At this point the story
+gets even more convoluted, and you will have to read the book to see
+what happens next, and how the boys eventually get home.
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ADRIFT IN A BOAT, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ONE.
+
+THE PICNIC ON THE SANDS--THE MIDSHIPMAN--HARRY MERRYWEATHER AND DAVID
+MORETON CAUGHT BY THE TIDE--THE ALARM.
+
+Few parts of the shores of old England present more beautiful and
+romantic scenery than is to be found on the coast of Cornwall.  There
+are deep bays, and bold headlands, and wild rocks, and lofty cliffs, and
+wooded heights, and bare downs, and yellow sands full of the most minute
+and delicate shells, so delicate that it is surprising how they could
+have existed in the rough and boisterous ocean, and been cast up whole
+from the depths below.  In one of those beautiful bays, many years ago,
+a large party was collected, on a bright afternoon in the early part of
+autumn.  Among the party were persons of all ages, but most of them were
+young, and all were apparently very busy.  Some were engaged in tending
+a fire over which a pot was boiling, and others were collecting
+drift-wood thrown up close under the cliff, with which to feed it.  Two
+or three young ladies, under the superintendence of a venerable matron,
+were spreading a tablecloth, though the sand looked so smooth and clear
+that it did not seem as if the most dainty of people could have required
+one.  Several were very eager in unpacking sundry hampers and baskets,
+and in carrying the dishes and plates, and bottles of wine, and the
+numerous other articles which they contained, to the tablecloth.  Two
+young ladies had volunteered to go with a couple of pails to fetch water
+from a spring which gushed out of the cliff, cool and fresh, at some
+distance off, and two young gentlemen had offered to go and, assist
+them, which was very kind in the young gentlemen, as they certainly
+before had not thought of troubling themselves about the matter.  To be
+sure the young ladies were very pretty and very agreeable, and it is
+possible that their companions might not have considered the trouble
+over-excessive.  The youngest members of the party were as busy as the
+rest, close down to the water collecting the beautiful shells which have
+been mentioned.  The shells were far too small to be picked up singly,
+and they therefore came provided with sheets of thick letter-paper, into
+which they swept them from off the sand where they had been left by the
+previous high tide.  A loud shout from a hilarious old gentleman, who
+had constituted himself director of the entertainment, and who claimed
+consequently the right of making more noise than anybody else, or indeed
+than all the rest put together, now summoned them up to the tablecloth,
+to which at the sound, with no lingering steps, they came, exhibiting
+their treasures on their arrival to their older friends.  The party
+forthwith began to seat themselves round the ample tablecloth, but they
+took up a good deal more room than had it been spread on a table.  The
+variety of attitudes they assumed was amusing.  The more elderly ladies
+sat very upright, with their plates on their laps; the younger ones who
+had gone for the water, and their friends of the same age, managed to
+assume more graceful attitudes; while the young men who had been to
+school and college, and had read how the Romans took their meals,
+stretched themselves out at the feet of the former, leaning on their
+elbows, and occasionally, when not actually engaged in conveying ham and
+chicken or pie to their mouths, giving glances at the bright and
+laughing eyes above them.  The hilarious old gentleman tried kneeling,
+that he might carve a round of beef placed before him, but soon found
+that attitude anything but pleasant to his feelings; then he sat with
+one side to the cloth, then with the other.  At last he scraped a trench
+in the sand sufficient to admit his outstretched legs, and, placing the
+beef before him, carved vigorously away till all claimants were
+supplied.  The younger boys and girls, tucking their legs under them
+like Turks, speedily bestowed their undivided attention to the task of
+stowing away the good things spread out before their eyes.
+
+"This is jolly, don't you think so, Mary?" exclaimed a fine boy of about
+fourteen to a pretty little girl who sat next to him; "there is only one
+thing wanting to make it perfect--Harry Merryweather ought to be here.
+He wrote word that he expected to be with us this morning, and I told
+him where the picnic was to take place, that should he be too late to
+get home, he might come here direct.  Oh, he is such a capital fellow,
+and now that he is in the navy, and has actually been in a battle, he
+will have so much to tell us about."
+
+Mary Rymer fully agreed with David Moreton, for Harry was a favourite
+with every one who knew him.  Although Harry Merryweather had not
+arrived for the picnic, his friends appeared to be enjoying themselves
+very much, judging by the smiles and giggling and the chattering, and
+the occasional shouts of laughter which arose when old Mr Tom Sowton,
+and florid, fat Mr Billy Burnaby, uttered some of their jokes.  Not
+that they were the only people who uttered good things, but they were
+professed jokers, and seemed to consider it their duty to make people
+merry; Mr Burnaby, indeed, if he could not make people laugh at what he
+said, made them laugh at what he did.
+
+The party had come from various quarters in the neighbourhood, some from
+a distance inland, in carriages, and two or three families who lived on
+or near the coast, in two pretty yachts, which lay at anchor in the bay.
+One of them belonged to Mr Moreton, David's father, and the other to
+Captain Rymer, with whose family David was as much at home as with his
+own; and he and his sisters looked upon Mary, Captain Rymer's daughter,
+quite in the light of a sister.  She was, indeed, a very charming little
+girl, well worthy of their affections.  The first course of the picnic
+was concluded--that is to say, the chickens, and hams, and pies, and
+cold beef, and tongues, and a few other substantials were pushed back;
+the potatoes, which had been boiled in salt water, having been
+pronounced excellent.  The tarts and cakes and fruit, peaches and figs
+and grapes, were brought to the front, and underwent the admiration they
+deserved, when suddenly David Moreton, looking up, raised a loud shout,
+and, jumping to his feet, clapped his hands and waved them vehemently.
+The shout was echoed in different keys by many others, and all turning
+their eyes in the direction David was pointing, they saw, on the top of
+the cliff a boy, on whose jacket and cap the glitter of a little gold
+lace and his snow-white trousers proclaimed him to be that hero in
+embryo, a midshipman.  Having looked about him for a few seconds, he
+began to descend the cliff at so seemingly breakneck a speed, that
+several of the ladies shrieked out to him to take care, and Mary Rymer
+turned somewhat pale and stood looking anxiously as the young sailor
+dropped from one point of rock to another, or slid down a steep incline,
+or swung himself by the branches of shrubs or tufts of grass to the
+ledge below him, and ran along it as if it had been a broad highway,
+though a false step might have proved his destruction.  Once he stopped.
+To go back was impossible, and to attempt to descend seemed almost
+certain destruction.  Mr Sowton and Billy Burnaby jumped up, almost
+dragging away the tablecloth, upsetting tarts, and fruit-dishes, and
+bottles of wine, and all the other things, when Harry gave a tremendous
+spring to a ledge which his sharp eye had detected, and was in a few
+seconds afterwards standing safe on the sands and shaking hands warmly
+with everybody present.  When he came to Mr Tom Sowton and Billy
+Burnaby, it might have been supposed from the way in which they wrung
+each other's hands, that there was a wager pending as to which should
+first twist off his friend's fist.
+
+"Fortunately, we haven't eaten up all the good things, Harry," exclaimed
+Mr Sowton, dragging the midshipman, nothing loth, to the well-spread
+cloth.  "Now open your mouth, and Burnaby and I will try and feed you.
+What will you have first,--beef, or pudding, or a peach, or a tongue, or
+a cold chicken?  Oh dear me, there is but a drumstick and a merrythought
+left.  Which will you have?  No!  I see I am wrong again, the drumstick
+is in the dish, and the merrythought is in my head, with numerous
+companions.  Does anybody wish to know what they are?  I'll fill my
+naval friend's plate first with cold beef and mustard, and then inform
+you."  Thus the old gentleman ran on.  He kept his word with regard to
+Harry, who very soon by diligent application caught up the rest of the
+party, and was able to commence on the tarts and peaches.  All the
+gentlemen asked him to take wine, and the ladies were eager to hear his
+adventures.  He briefly recounted them in an animated manner, for as he
+had been little more than a year at sea, everything he had seen and done
+had the freshness of novelty.  He belonged to the gallant _Arethusa_
+frigate, which had put into Plymouth from a successful cruise in the Bay
+of Biscay, where, after capturing several minor prizes of considerable
+value, she had taken an enemy's frigate of equal force.  He had
+consequently got leave for a few days to come home and see his widowed
+mother.  He was her only son; her husband had been an officer in the
+army, and was killed in battle; her daughter Jane could never be induced
+to leave her, but they had promised to send Harry on to the picnic after
+he had indulged them with a little of his society.  He had come by a
+chance conveyance, knowing that he should be able to return with some of
+his friends.
+
+In those days it was the custom to sit long after dinner, and even at a
+picnic people consumed a considerable amount of time round the cloth.
+At length, however, they got up and broke into separate parties.  Some
+went in one direction, some in another.  The elders were more inclined
+to sit still, or went only a little way up the cliff; but several of the
+grown-up young ladies and gentlemen climbed up by somewhat steep paths
+to the downs above.  The younger ones, the tide being low, very
+naturally preferred scrambling out on the rocks in search of
+sea-anemones, and other marine curiosities.  There were numerous
+projecting rocks forming small bays in the large bay, and thus
+completely hiding the different parties from each other.  No two boys
+could have had a more sincere regard for each other than had David
+Moreton and Harry Merryweather.  David was longing to go to sea with
+Harry, but his father was greatly averse to his going.  He was the
+eldest son, and heir to a large property.  As the boys had been
+separated for so long a time (long in their lives), they had a great
+deal to say to each other.  They consequently strolled away, forgetting
+what Mary Rymer or the rest of their fair companions might have thought
+of their gallantry, in and out along the sands, round the points and
+over the rocks, till they had got to a considerable distance from the
+place where the picnic had been held.  A dry rock, high above the water,
+which they could reach by going along a ledge connecting it with the
+mainland, tempted them to scramble out to it.  There they chose a nice
+cosy, dry nook, where, sitting down, the water immediately around them
+was hidden from their sight.  This circumstance must be remembered.  It
+was very delightful.  They had not yet said one-half of what they had
+got to say to each other, so they sat on talking eagerly, looking out
+seaward and watching the white sails which glided by coming up channel
+in the distant horizon.  David was so delighted with the accounts Harry
+gave him, that he resolved to make a further attempt to induce his
+father to allow him to go to sea.  It must be owned that Harry, full of
+life and happiness himself, had pictured only the bright side of
+everything.  He had described the courage and determination to win with
+which he and his shipmates had gone into action, and the enthusiasm and
+delight they had felt on gaining the victory and capturing the prize;
+but he forgot to speak of the death of some cut down in their prime, and
+the wounds and sufferings of others, many maimed and crippled for life.
+Thus they talked on without marking how the time went by.  Harry's
+watch, which he had locked up carefully before going into action, had
+been destroyed by a shot which had knocked the desk and everything in it
+to pieces; and David had forgotten to wind his up.  Suddenly it occurred
+to them that the sun was getting very low, and that it was high time for
+them to return.
+
+They jumped up to scramble back over the rock, but no sooner had they
+done so than Harry cried out, "We are caught!" and David exclaimed, "The
+tide has risen tremendously, how shall we get to the shore?"
+
+"Swim there," answered Harry; "I see no other way.  If we were to shout
+ever so loud we should not be heard, and I do not suppose any one knows
+where we are."  By this time they had got to the inner end of the rock,
+where they found that the distance between them and the shore was not
+only considerable, but that a strong current swept round the rock, and
+that though before the sea had been calm, it had got up somewhat, and
+caused a surf to break on the shore.  What was to be done?  David was a
+first-rate swimmer, and would not have had much difficulty by himself in
+stemming the current, and landing through the surf; but Harry, though a
+sailor, had not learned that art before he went to sea, and could swim
+very little.  It is extraordinary how many sailors in those days could
+not swim, and lost their lives in consequence.  They stood looking at
+the foaming, swirling waters, not knowing what to do.
+
+"I would try it," said Harry at length, "but I am afraid if I were to
+give in that I should drown you as well as myself."
+
+"I think that I might support you, and we should drift in somewhere a
+little further down, perhaps," said David.
+
+"Much more likely that we should be swept out to sea," answered Harry.
+"No, no, David, that will never do.  You can swim on shore before the
+surf gets heavier, and your father or Captain Rymer will send a boat for
+me very soon."
+
+"But these are spring tides, and if the sea gets up at all, it will soon
+wash right over this rock," said David.
+
+"The more reason for you to hurry to get a boat from the yachts,"
+observed the midshipman.
+
+While they were speaking, they observed the two yachts, which had
+hitherto been hid by a point of land, standing out to sea.  They had
+come from the east with a fine northerly smooth water breeze, but the
+wind had drawn off shore to the east, and as the tide was at flood
+running up channel, the vessels had stood off shore to get the full
+strength of it.  This the boys at once understood, but how they should
+have gone off without them was the puzzle.  Matters were growing
+serious.  Even should David reach the shore, he might not find a boat,
+and it was a long way he feared from any house where he could get help,
+so that Harry might be lost before he could get back.  They retraced
+their steps to the highest part of the rock, and waved and shouted, even
+though they knew that their voices could not be heard, but the yachts
+stood on at some distance from each other; it should be remarked,
+Captain Rymer's leading.  It was evident that they were not seen.  The
+hot tide came rushing in, rising higher and higher.  Both the boys
+became very anxious, David more on his friend's account than his own.
+So many persons have lost their lives much in the same way, that it
+seemed probable the two boys would lose theirs.
+
+We must now go back to the picnic party.  Mr Sowton and Mr Burnaby,
+and a few of the other more elderly ladies and gentlemen, began at
+length to think it time to return home.  The hampers were repacked and
+carried, some up the cliffs by the servants, and others on board the
+yachts; and Mr Sowton and Billy Burnaby acting, as they said, as
+whippers-in, began shouting and screeching at the top of their voices.
+Captain Rymer and Mr Moreton had gone on board their vessels to get
+ready, and thus there was no one actually in command.  The boats to take
+off the party were rather small, and several trips had to be made.  In
+the meantime, those who were returning home by land climbed up the steep
+path to the top of the cliff, where their carriages were waiting for
+them.  When they were fairly off, each party inquired what had become of
+Harry and David.  Captain Rymer's yacht, the _Arrow_, was off the first,
+for the _Psyche_, Mr Moreton's, fouled her anchor, and it was some time
+before it could be got up.
+
+Mr Moreton thought that his son, and the young midshipman had,
+attracted by sweet Mary Rymer, gone on board the _Arrow_; while Mary,
+who, it must be owned, was rather sorry not to see them, took it for
+granted that Harry was returning, as he had come, by land, and that
+David had gone with him.
+
+The yachts had a long beat back.  As they got away from the land, the
+wind increased very much, and came in strong sharp cold gusts which made
+it necessary first to take in the gaff-topsails, and then one reef and
+then another in the mainsails.  As the wind increased the sea got up,
+and the little vessels, more suited to fine weather than foul, had hard
+work to look up to the rising gale.  Still there was no help for it.
+The tide helped them along, but by its meeting the wind much more sea
+was knocked up than if both had been going the same way.  Had such been
+the case, the vessels could not have made good their passage.  Darkness
+coming on made matters worse: poor old Mr Sowton became wonderfully
+silent, and Mr Burnaby, who was sitting on the deck of the cabin,
+holding on by the leg of the table, looked the very picture of woe.
+Mary Rymer, who was well accustomed to yachting, and a few others, kept
+up their spirits, though all hailed with no little satisfaction the
+lights which showed the entrance to Pencliffe harbour, into which they
+were bound.
+
+Mr Moreton's party had been at home some time, and most of the family
+had retired to their rooms, when they began to wonder why David had not
+appeared.
+
+"He is probably still at the Rymers', or has accompanied Harry to Mrs
+Merryweather's," said Mrs Moreton to her husband; still, as night drew
+on, she became somewhat anxious.  Her anxiety increased when a servant
+came with a message from Mrs Merryweather to inquire why Mr Harry did
+not come home.
+
+Mr Moreton himself now became even more anxious than his wife.  Neither
+his daughters, nor some friends staying with them, remembered seeing
+either Harry or David for some time before they embarked.
+
+Mr Moreton, putting on a thick coat, for it was now blowing very hard,
+went off to Captain Rymer's house, which was close down to the bay,
+accompanied by Mrs Merryweather's servant, and greatly alarmed the
+family by asking for his son and Harry.
+
+"Why, did they not come back with you?" asked the captain.  "No, we
+thought they were on board the _Arrow_," answered Mr Moreton.  "They
+may have gone with the Trevanians, but I do not think that Harry would
+have failed to come back to his mother.  I will go back and see her.
+They must have set off by land, and there may have been an upset or a
+break-down.  It will be all right tomorrow."
+
+The morrow, however, came, but the boys did not appear.  Mr Moreton
+therefore rode over early to the Trevanians, but they knew nothing of
+the boys.
+
+He now became seriously alarmed.  As it was blowing too hard to go by
+sea, he sent a messenger to say that he should not be home for some
+hours, and continued on to the bay where the picnic had been held.  Then
+he made inquiries at the nearest cottages, but no one had seen his son
+or Harry Merryweather.  He went from cottage to cottage in vain, making
+inquiries.
+
+At last a fisherman suggested that the beach should be searched.  Mr
+Moreton at once set out with a party quickly assembled to perform the
+anxious task, dreading to find the mangled body of his son and his brave
+young friend.  No signs of them could be found.  Still his anxiety was
+in no respect lessened.
+
+He stopped on his way back at one cottage which he had not before
+visited.  He found the inmate, an old woman, in deep affliction.  Her
+husband, old Jonathan Jefferies, a fisherman, when out on his calling,
+had perished during the gale in the night.  He could sympathise with
+her, and as far as money help was concerned, he promised all in his
+power.  With an almost broken heart he returned home to give the sad
+news to his wife and family.
+
+Poor Mrs Merryweather, she was even still more to be pitied.  To have
+her son restored to her, and then to find him snatched away again so
+suddenly, perhaps for ever!
+
+Day after day passed by, and no news came of the much-loved missing
+ones.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWO.
+
+ON THE ROCKS--A BRAVE LAD--SAVED--TRISTRAM'S FATE--STILL IN A BOAT.
+
+"David, you must try to swim on shore, and save yourself," exclaimed
+Harry Merryweather, looking at the foaming seas, which now began, with a
+deafening noise, to dash furiously round the rock on which he and his
+friend stood.  "If you don't go soon, you will not be able to get there
+at all.  Leave me, I beg you.  There is no reason why both should be
+lost."
+
+"No indeed, that I will not," answered David, stoutly.  "If I thought
+that I could get help by trying to swim on shore I would go, but I do
+not think there is a place near where I could find a boat."
+
+Harry did not speak for a minute or two.
+
+At last he put his hand on David's shoulder, and said, "I ask you again
+to swim on shore by yourself.  I will pray for you as you are swimming,
+and you shall pray for me when you reach the beach.  My dear mother
+taught me to pray when I was a child, and she has ever shown to me that
+God hears all faithful prayers, and in His good time grants them; so
+that I have always prayed since I went to sea, both when I was turning
+into my hammock, and when I was turning out; and I knew that my mother
+was praying for me too, for she is always praying for me; and I know
+that God hears those prayers, so you see that makes me very brave.  I am
+sure that I can trust Him."
+
+"I am so glad to hear you say that," answered David.  "My father was
+teaching us just the same thing after reading the Bible at prayers the
+other night.  It's true--it's true, I know."
+
+"Then trust to Him, and do as I ask you," said Harry, earnestly.  "Take
+off your jacket and shoes at all events--you will be back in time to
+save them and me also."
+
+"I don't like leaving you at all, but I will do as you wish," exclaimed
+David, after a moment's further thought, taking off his jacket.  As he
+did so he turned his head round seaward.  "Hillo!--why, there is a
+boat," he exclaimed.  "She is under sail, standing this way."
+
+The boys together sprang back to the highest part of the rock, and David
+still holding his jacket waved it vehemently.  It was a small
+fishing-boat, beating up from the westward.  She was then standing in
+for the land, and Harry, whose nautical knowledge was not as yet
+by-the-bye very great, was doubtful where she would go about again
+before she got near enough for those on board to see them.  All they
+could do was to wave and wave, and to shout--though their shouting,
+shrill as it was, would have been of no use.
+
+David, who really knew more about boat-sailing than his naval friend,
+expressed his opinion that she was beating up for the little
+boat-harbour of Penmore, about two miles to the eastward.  How anxiously
+they watched her, as the tide sweeping her along she drew nearer and
+nearer!  The wind, having--as the expression is--backed into the
+south-east, enabled her to lay up well along shore, or their hope of
+being seen would have been small indeed.  For some minutes longer she
+stood on almost directly for them; then at length she went about--high
+time, too, for she was getting near the breakers.  Now was the moment
+for them to shout and wave, for if they were now neither seen nor heard
+they must abandon their hope of help from her, as by the next tack she
+would be a long way to the eastward.  How eagerly they watched her!
+Again and again they waved and shouted.
+
+"Yes, see--she is about," cried Harry, joyfully.  He was right--the boat
+was evidently standing towards them.  Harry, forgetting all past
+dangers, shouted and danced for joy.  Life was very sweet to him.  He
+thought nothing of the ordinary risk of losing it which he was every day
+running--but this was out of the way, and he had almost made up his mind
+that he should not escape.  There were two people in the boat--an old
+man and a boy.  The sail was lowered, and getting out their oars they
+approached the rock cautiously.  It would have been excessively
+dangerous to get close, as a heavier sea than usual might have driven
+the boat against the rock and dashed her to pieces.  This Harry and
+David saw.  The old man stood up in the boat, and beckoned to them.  He
+was shouting also, but the thundering noise of the sea against the rock
+prevented them from hearing him.
+
+"He wants us to swim out to the boats," said David.  "I am sure that I
+could do it, and I will bring in a rope for you."
+
+"Oh, I do not think that you could," answered Harry.  "The sea rolls in
+so heavily that you would be driven back.  They might let the end of a
+rope, made fast to a cork or a float of some sort, drift in, and haul us
+off."  The plan was clearly a good one, and they made signals to the old
+man to carry it out; but either he did not understand them, or had not a
+rope long enough.
+
+"I must go," cried David, throwing off his coat and shoes.  "Pray for
+me, remember."  He had been watching his opportunity: a heavy sea had
+just passed, and, before Harry could even say another word, slipping
+down to the edge of the rock, he glided in, giving himself all the
+impetus he could with his feet, and almost the next instant was
+breasting a sea at some distance from the rock.  Harry watched him
+anxiously, not forgetting to pray.  Now he seemed almost driven back,
+and now a foam-crested sea rolling in looked as if it would inevitably
+overwhelm him.  Alas! yes--he disappeared.
+
+"He is lost--he is lost!" cried Harry.  But no.  Directly after he was
+again seen on the surface, working his way up another advancing sea.
+
+Harry was now guided chiefly by the gesticulations of the people in the
+boat,--that is to say, by the way the old man waved a hand, or looked
+out, for they had to keep their oars moving with all their might and
+main to avoid being driven dangerously near the rock.  At length Harry,
+with thankfulness, saw David close to the boat but she seemed to be
+going from him--then the old man stood up--stretched out his arm, and
+David, well-nigh exhausted, was dragged into the boat.  Harry saw that
+he was talking to the old man.
+
+"What will he do?  I hope that he will not attempt to swim back to the
+rock," thought Harry; yet he felt very sure that he should never reach
+the boat by himself.  As the boat rose on the top of a wave, Harry saw
+that David was employed in fastening several ropes together.  The task
+which the old man and the boy could not perform, as they were obliged to
+continue rowing, he was able to do.  Harry saw him very busy in the
+bottom of the boat, and now he lifted a water-cask into the sea, and
+veered away the rope over the stern.  For some time Harry did not regain
+sight of the cask; at last he saw it on the top of a sea, but still a
+long way from the rock.  He watched it anxiously; but still he doubted
+whether he should be able to get hold of it.  It might, even if it
+reached the rock, be dashed to pieces.  He got down as close to the
+water as he dared go, for the seas were dashing so high up the rock that
+he might easily be carried away by them--indeed, he was already wet
+through and through with the spray, which was flying in dense sheets
+over the rock, and in a few minutes more it seemed to him that it would
+be completely overwhelmed--indeed, any moment a sea might sweep over it.
+Harry had a brave heart, and as long as he had life was not likely to
+lose courage.  He showed his coolness, indeed, for believing that the
+cask would soon reach him, he deliberately tied David's jacket and shoes
+round his waist, that he might have the pleasure of restoring them to
+him.  He had observed how David slipped into the water.  There came the
+cask, nearer and nearer.  Before it had time to touch the rock, he slid
+down into the sea, and struck out boldly for it, and throwing his arms
+over it caught the rope to which it was made fast, and drew himself up
+till his chest rested on it.
+
+He then shouted at the top of his voice, "Haul in--all right."  David,
+however, could not hear him: but having watched him with intense
+eagerness, now began slowly to haul in the rope, while the old man and
+boy pulled the boat further off the rock.  Harry held firmly on, though
+he almost lost his breath by the waters, which dashed in his face.  He
+kept his senses, however, and had the wisdom to strike out with all his
+might with his feet, which greatly helped him on, and took off the drag
+from his arms which they would otherwise have felt.
+
+As he rose to the top of a sea he again shouted out every now and then,
+"All right--haul away."  He was, however, not much inclined to shout by
+the time he got up to the stern of the boat.  David, with the help of
+the old man, then quickly hauled him on board.
+
+"And you have brought me my jacket and shoes," exclaimed David, gladly
+putting them on, for he felt very cold directly the exertions he had
+just gone through ceased.  The boys sincerely thanked God in their
+hearts that they were saved--though but a very few audible words of
+thanksgiving were uttered.  No time, indeed, was to be lost in getting
+away from the rock.
+
+The old man told David to go to the helm.  "And you other young master
+take my oar and pull with all your might, while I sets the sails," he
+added.  A sprit-mainsail, much the worse for wear, and a little rag of a
+foresail were soon set.  It was as much sail as the boat in the rising
+gale could carry, and away she flew seaward.  The old man took the helm,
+and the boy, who had not spoken, laid in his oar, and facing forward,
+put his hand on the foresheet to be ready to go about when the word was
+given.  The boat was somewhat old and battered, like its master,--the
+rigging especially seemed in a bad condition.
+
+The old man saw the boys examining her, and divined their thoughts.
+"She's not like one of your fine-painted yachts, young masters; but she
+has helped to save your lives, and she'll serve my time, I'm pretty sure
+of that," he observed.  "She'll be tried, howsomever, not a little
+to-night, I'm thinking.  We were late as it was coming up from `Put off
+shoal,' and this work with you made us still later, so that we shall
+have to be thankful if we get into Penmore harbour before the tide
+turns."
+
+"She is a good boat, no doubt, and at all events we are most thankful to
+you for having by her means saved our lives," said David; and Harry
+repeated what he had said.
+
+"No, young masters, it wasn't I saved you, it was God.  Don't thank me.
+Man can do no good thing of himself, you know, and I couldn't have saved
+you if it hadn't been His will."  The fishing-boat went careering on
+over the foaming seas, guided by the skilful hand of the old man.  It is
+surprising how much sea a small boat with good beam will go through when
+well managed.  The old man was far more loquacious than the young one,
+who sat quite still forward, only every now and then turning his face
+aside as the spray dashed in it, and shaking the water from his
+sou'-wester.
+
+To the boys' inquiry of the old man to which place he belonged, "Little
+better than a mile to the eastward of where I took you aboard," he
+replied; "but when the wind blows as it does now, there's no place for
+landing nearer than Penmore harbour.  That matters nothing, as we get a
+good market for our fish near there, and we have a good lot to sell, you
+see."  He pointed to the baskets in the centre of the boat, well filled
+with mackerel and several other kinds of fish.  He told them that his
+name was Jonathan Jefferies, that he had married a Cornish woman, and
+settled in the parish, and that the lad was his grandson.  "Not quite
+right up there," he remarked, touching his forehead; "but he is a good
+lad, and knows how to do his duty.  We call him Tristram Torr, for he is
+our daughter's son.  She is dead, poor thing, and his father was lost at
+sea, we suppose, for he went away and never came back."
+
+The old man thus continued giving scraps of his family history, till the
+gloom of evening gave way to the darkness of night.  His chief regret at
+being out so late was that his old woman would be looking for him, as he
+had told her that he expected to be home earlier than usual.  The darker
+it grew the less talkative, however, he became; indeed, all his
+attention was taken up in steering, for with the darkness the wind and
+sea increased, till the boat could hardly look up to it.  At last Harry
+and David began to suspect that though they had escaped from the rock,
+they were in no small danger of being swamped, and thus, after all,
+losing their lives.  Every now and then a heavy sea broke into the boat
+and half filled her.  Still the boy Tristram said nothing, but turning
+round took a bailer from under the thwart, and began energetically
+bailing away.  Harry and David did the same with their hats, till old
+Jefferies handed them a bucket, with which they more rapidly cleared the
+boat.  They had to be quick about it, for scarcely was she free of water
+than another sea came in and again half filled her.  It seemed also
+pretty evident to them that instead of going to windward she was making
+leeway, though, as the tide was still running to the eastward, she was
+going in that direction.  The two boys were feeling thoroughly chilled
+and uncomfortable; they were, of course, wet to the skin, and the wind
+was strong and keen, and even when they sat down, by the old man's
+advice, in the bottom of the boat, their legs were in water.  Still they
+kept up their spirits, and when the water washed into the boat they were
+glad to jump up and bail it out again.  Besides that they were in danger
+of being swamped, it appeared to the midshipman and his friend that
+there was a great risk of being run down.  Already two or three
+phantom-like forms had suddenly appeared out of the darkness, and
+gliding by were soon lost to sight.
+
+The boy, however, had made no remark about them; suddenly he shouted,
+"Grandfather, a sail on the weather-bow."
+
+"About, then," cried the old man.  Harry and David looked out, and saw,
+almost ahead of them, towering to the skies it seemed, a dark pyramid of
+canvas.
+
+"She is a big ship running down channel," said Harry.  "She will be over
+us! she will be over us!"  The boat was at that moment in stays, going
+about.  Scarcely had he spoken, when there was a loud crack.  The mast
+went by the board, and as it came down struck the old man on the head.
+He would have fallen overboard had not Harry and David seized his coat
+and dragged him in.
+
+"Here, pull, masters," cried Tristram, trying to get out both the oars.
+In doing so he let one of them go overboard; both would have gone had
+not Harry, springing forward, seized the other.  But poor Tristram, in
+endeavouring to regain the one he had lost, overbalanced himself, and
+met the fate his grandfather had just escaped.  Harry threw the oar over
+to the side on which he had fallen, but the poor lad in vain endeavoured
+to clutch it.  There was a piercing cry; Harry thought he saw a hand
+raised up through the darkness, and then he neither saw nor heard more.
+
+How came it that the boy's cry did not rouse the grandfather?  Sad to
+say, he lay without moving at the bottom of the boat.
+
+"This is fearful," cried David, feeling the old man's face and hands; "I
+am afraid that he is dead, and the poor lad gone too.  What are we to
+do?"
+
+"Keep the boat's head to the sea as long as we can with one oar, and
+then up helm and run before the wind," answered Harry, who knew that
+such was the way a big ship would be managed under similar
+circumstances.  David sat at the helm, and Harry vigorously plied his
+oar--now on one side, now on the other, and thus managed to keep the
+boat from getting broadside to the sea.  It was very hard work, however,
+and he felt that, even though relieved by David, it could not be kept up
+all night.  Several times David felt the old man's face; it was still
+warm, but there was no other sign of life.  The boat was broad and deep,
+or she would very quickly have been turned over.  This, however, made
+her very heavy to pull, while from the same cause the sea continually
+washed into her.  At length they agreed that she must be put before the
+wind.  They waited for a lull, and then getting her quickly round,
+hoisted the jib, which had been before taken in, to the end of the
+spreet, which they lashed to the stump of the mast.  The wind blew as
+strong as ever, but the tide having turned there was less sea than
+before, and thus away they went down channel, at a far greater rate than
+they supposed.
+
+"It is going to be only a summer gale," observed Harry.  "When the
+morning comes we shall be easily able to rig a fore and aft sail, and
+stand in for the shore.  The poor, good old man, I am very sorry for
+him, and so I am for the boy; but for ourselves it does not so much
+matter, except that we shall have to breakfast on raw fish, and perhaps
+after all not get home to dinner.  My dear mother, too, and Jane, may be
+frightened, and I don't like the thought of that."
+
+"Yes, to be sure, I forgot that; I am afraid those at my home will be
+frightened too, when they hear nothing of us," said David.  "One comfort
+is, that we did not keep away intentionally, though, to be sure, it was
+thoughtless of us to be caught by the tide as we were.  But don't let us
+think of ourselves; better let us see what we can do for this poor old
+man.  I believe that he is still alive, though how to bring him round I
+don't know.  If we had any liquor to give him we might pour it down his
+throat, but as we have nothing we must keep his head up and let him lay
+quiet till daylight," said Harry.
+
+David was thoroughly accustomed to boat-sailing, so that he was well
+able to keep the boat dead before the wind.  The sea came curling up
+astern, but none broke over her; had even one done so it would have sent
+her to the bottom.  A very little conversation took place after this.
+Only Harry, fearing that he and his friend might lose heart, every now
+and then said something to keep up their spirits.  It was somewhat
+forced, it must be owned, for they both saw that their position was very
+critical.  The hours passed slowly by--now the one, now the other took
+the helm.  Morning broke at last; they looked out, expecting to see the
+land aboard on the starboard hand, but not a glimpse of land was
+visible--nothing but sea and sky on every side around of a leaden grey
+hue--not a streak in the horizon showed where the sun was rising.  They
+could only guess by the wind the points of the compass.  Harry proposed
+hauling up for where they supposed the land to be, but David considered
+that such a proceeding would be dangerous, and that it would be safer to
+run on till the weather moderated and they could get sail on the boat.
+They neither of them sufficiently calculated the strength of the tide,
+which, running for six hours, had carried them many miles to the
+eastward.  The old man was alive, but sat perfectly still at the bottom
+of the boat.  It seemed indeed doubtful if, after remaining in that
+state so long, he would ever recover.  Their anxiety prevented them from
+feeling hungry; indeed, as yet, they fancied that they could not bring
+themselves to eat raw fish.  They now tried various means to bring the
+old man to consciousness, by rubbing his hands and his feet, and
+occasionally his forehead.  It is difficult to say whether these means
+had any effect.  At length, at all events, he slowly opened his eyes;
+then he closed them again, and they thought that he was dying.  Then
+once more he opened them, and looked about him with a puzzled and pained
+expression of countenance.  Now he gazed inquiringly at David--now at
+Harry.
+
+"Where is Tristram? where is my grandson?" he asked, speaking very
+slowly.  "Gone! gone! oh, don't say that.  What have you done with him,
+my young masters?"
+
+With sad hearts the boys told him how the accident had happened.
+
+"Then may God take me to my boy, my poor boy," he exclaimed hiding his
+face in his hands, and sinking back once more into the bottom of the
+boat.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THREE.
+
+WHERE WERE THEY?--RAW FISH--SLEEP--THE BRIG WITHOUT A CREW--AN AGED
+CHRISTIAN.
+
+The gale continued blowing harder than ever, and had not the boat been
+built especially to encounter heavy seas, she would very soon have been
+swamped.  It was only by careful steering, indeed, that this could be
+avoided, while the two boys took it by turns to bail out the water which
+occasionally came in over the gunwale in rather alarming quantities.
+Still they did not lose courage.  They, however, grew very hungry, and
+began to look wistfully at the hamper of fish.
+
+"I wish we had a stove of some sort, that we might cook some of these
+fish," said David, holding up a mackerel.  "I am getting fearfully
+ravenous."
+
+"Just scrape off the scales and take out the inside of one of them, and
+hand it to me," answered Harry, who was steering.  "I have seen seamen
+eat raw fish, and raw meat too, and the islanders in the South Seas I
+know do, so we must if we are not to starve."
+
+David prepared the fish as directed, during the intervals of bailing.
+Still he could not bring himself to eat any.  Harry's inside was more
+seasoned.  A midshipman's berth in those days did not allow of any
+squeamishness.
+
+"Just pour a little water into the tin mug, it will help it down," he
+said, after he had taken a few mouthfuls of the fish.
+
+They had found a tin mug, with a jar of fresh water.  They husbanded the
+water carefully, and David poured out very little, lest it should be
+jerked out of the mug as the boat was tossed about.  Harry dipped the
+bits of fish into the water before eating them.  It took away somewhat
+of the raw taste, he fancied.  Still he very soon came to an end of his
+meal.
+
+"I shall do better another time," he observed, putting the remainder of
+the fish down by his side, and drinking up the water.
+
+David sat for some time very silent, bailing out the water.  At last he
+looked into the basket and took out a fish, which he began to scrape
+with his knife.  He held it in one hand while he bailed with the other,
+then he scraped a little more, and finally cleaned the fish completely.
+He looked at it, his lips curled, as is often the case when a person is
+about to take nauseous physic.  A pang came into his inside.  He could
+stand the hunger no longer, and, putting the fish between his teeth, he
+began to gnaw away at a great rate.  He far outdid Harry.  When the
+water rose to the side of the boat, he dipped the fish into it.  It
+added to the flavour, and made it more digestible.  The boys were
+thankful that there was not much risk of their starving as long as the
+fish kept good and the water lasted.  It was not food that would keep
+them in health for any length of time; yet it stopped the pangs of
+hunger, and that was a great thing.  All this time they were looking out
+for some abatement in the gale, but not a break appeared in the mass of
+dark lead-coloured clouds which formed a canopy above their heads,
+reaching down to the horizon on every side.
+
+"Whereabouts do you think we are?" asked David, after a long silence.
+
+Harry thought for some time.
+
+"Somewhere in the chops of the British Channel, to the westward of
+Scilly, I fear," he answered.  "Possibly, if the wind shifts to the
+southward, we may get driven up the Irish Channel, and then it will be a
+tremendous time before we get home; I may be wrong, but I fear not."
+
+"That's what I think too," said David.  "I wish that the old man was
+sensible.  We might consult him what to do."
+
+Old Jefferies, however, continued in the same unconscious state as
+before.  They had some hope of getting assistance from any vessels which
+might pass them, but though they saw a number at a distance gliding
+quickly by, not one came near them.  On they drove, further and further
+they feared from land.  Again darkness came on.  They were very drowsy,
+but they feared, should they yield to sleep, that the boat would be
+swamped.  Harry had, he said, more practice in keeping awake, so he
+insisted that David should lie down on one of the thwarts and take an
+hour's rest, while he could steer and bail out at the same time.
+
+"I can manage it," answered David, with a yawn, stretching himself out
+on a seat, and in less than half a minute he was sound asleep.
+
+Poor Harry had very hard work to keep awake.  He could not venture to
+remain sitting.  More than once his eyes closed.  Phantom shapes passed
+before his eyes, strange sounds came into his ears, shrieks, cries, and
+groans; sometimes he heard, he thought, shouts from afar.  His brain
+swam round.  In another instant he would have lost all consciousness.
+He had to spring to his feet, and to bail away with one hand while he
+held the tiller with the other.  He would not venture to sit down again;
+indeed, the high, green, rolling, froth-topped seas, by which he was
+surrounded, were sufficient to keep him awake.  At last, putting down
+the skid, he looked at his watch.  It was past six o'clock.  David had
+slept more than his allotted hour, and yet he could scarcely bring
+himself to awake him.
+
+"Poor fellow, he is not so accustomed to this sort of work as I am," he
+said to himself.  "After that long swim, too, he requires rest, and had
+it not been for his courage I should no longer have been in this world.
+I'll try and keep awake a little longer."
+
+Harry did his best to do as he intended.  He kept moving his feet, he
+talked aloud, he sang even.  He looked at old Jefferies.  He thought he
+was nodding his head and answering him, but he could not make out what
+was said.  At last he felt that, if David did not wake up and come to
+his relief, he should drop down, and the boat would broach to, and they
+would all be drowned.
+
+"David!  David!" he tried to cry out, but his tongue seemed to cleave to
+the roof of his mouth.  Still he kept the tiller in his hand, striving
+steadily.  He made one more effort.  "David! help! help!" he shouted.
+David's mind was far away in his father's garden, with his sisters and
+sweet Mary Rymer.  He was telling them about Harry being in danger, but
+he had forgotten he was with his friend.  At last he heard himself
+called.  He started up, and was just in time to seize the tiller, which
+Harry had that instant let slip from his grasp, as he sank down to the
+bottom of the boat.  In another second of time the boat would have
+broached to.  The gloom of evening was coming on rapidly, and there was
+but a dreary prospect for poor David.  He still felt very sleepy, and
+had almost as much difficulty in keeping awake as before.  He managed to
+drag Harry to one side, and to place some of the nets under his head as
+a pillow, but no moving had the effect of rousing him up.  David felt as
+he had never felt before; sitting there, the only being conscious of
+external affairs in that lone boat, running on amidst those huge
+billows.  As long as the gale continued, on the boat must go, he well
+knew, or run almost the certainty of being swamped.  The short sleep he
+had enjoyed had refreshed him, and he thought that he should now be able
+to keep awake.  He felt very hungry, though.  No wonder!  Most people
+would have been hungry who had eaten nothing but raw fish during upwards
+of twenty-four hours.  He, however, would now have been very glad to get
+some more raw fish, but he could not reach the hamper, and he dared not
+leave the helm for an instant.  There was a locker under where he sat.
+He had just bailed out the boat, when stooping down, he put his hand in,
+and, feeling round, discovered to his great joy a large piece of bread,
+the best part of a quartern loaf.  It was very stale, but he was not
+inclined to be particular.  Never had he tasted bread so sweet.  He
+took, though, only a small portion, as he did not like to eat more
+without having Harry to share it with him, or old Jefferies, if he could
+be aroused.  The bread, with a little fresh water, greatly revived him.
+He thought, indeed, that he should be able to keep awake all the night,
+if Harry should sleep on.  He tried his best.  He stood up, then he
+bailed, but as much less water came into the boat than before, he had
+but little to do in that way.  He tried to sing and whistle, but the
+tunes were somewhat melancholy.  The wind was certainly decreasing, and
+the sea going down.  "I must wake up Harry, and then, if we can but
+manage to rig a fore and aft sail, we might haul our wind, and stand to
+the north-east," he said to himself.  "But which is the north-east, I
+wonder?  The wind may have changed, and there is not a break in the
+clouds.  Without a compass, how can we find our way?  If the clouds
+clear away, the stars would help us--at least, I suppose Harry knows all
+about them.  I wish that I did.  But I was lazy, and to this moment am
+not quite certain as to the look of the Polar Bear.  I remember that the
+North Star is in that.  However, we could not do much yet, and, with her
+beam to the sea, the boat would not be steady enough to rig our mast
+properly.  We must wait patiently till morning.  Dear me, how heavy my
+head feels!  They must be all wondering what has become of us at home.
+I hope they don't think we are lost.  That is the worst part of the
+business.  It will not be pleasant to live upon raw fish for very long,
+but I suppose that it will keep us alive, and probably we shall fall in
+with some vessel or other, which will tow us home.  That will be very
+nice.  What a pleasant picnic we had, and Harry to come home just in
+time, and Mary Rymer, and what a dear--oh! how pleasant--how--" Poor
+David was asleep.  No wonder, after having been awake for so many hours,
+and only just a little more than one hour's rest on a hard plank.  He
+still held the tiller, and instinctively moved it to or from him, as he
+felt the boat inclined to broach to.  His eyes, indeed, were not quite
+closed, so that in reality he saw the seas as they rolled before him,
+and perhaps steered almost as well as he had done before.  Meantime the
+old man remained in a state of stupor, and Harry slept as soundly as a
+"church door," or rather as midshipmen are generally supposed to do.
+Thus the boat must have gone on for hours.  Happily, the wind and sea
+were going down, or it would have been a serious matter to the boys.  It
+will be understood that, after an easterly gale in the Channel, the sea
+goes down more rapidly than after a westerly one, when there has been a
+commotion across the whole sweep of the Atlantic.  Suddenly a loud
+concussion and a continued grating sound made both David and Harry start
+to their feet, and they saw what seemed a huge black mass towering above
+them.  What could it be?
+
+"A ship! a ship!" shouted Harry.  "Heave a rope here!"
+
+No one answered.  As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship
+(for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging
+overboard.  With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the
+fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that
+was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.  Again
+Harry, joined by David, shouted loudly, but no one answered.
+
+"I believe the ship is abandoned," he observed.  "Yes, I am sure she is,
+for I see no masts.  She is not quite so large, either, as I thought at
+first--a brig probably.  However, we shall soon have daylight, and know
+all about it."
+
+The dawn was already breaking, but no roseate hue was seen in the sky,
+to indicate the position of the rising sun.  Although the sea had gone
+down greatly, still the boat struck heavily every now and then against
+the vessel, as she rolled slowly from side to side.  There was, indeed,
+great danger that she would be stove in, if not altogether swamped.  The
+boys, therefore, agreed that the sooner they could get on board the
+better.
+
+"We shall find some food, at all events; and if we can get nothing more,
+we may shove off again," observed David.
+
+"Oh!  I hope we shall get much more than that," exclaimed Harry, in a
+confident tone.  "What do you think of a compass, and sail, and spars,
+and rigging for our boat, and if so we shall without difficulty be able
+to find our way home.  Hurrah! what do you think of that?"
+
+"I did not fancy that we were likely to be so fortunate," answered
+David.  "To think that we should have run directly against a ship out in
+the ocean here!  What shall we do now?"
+
+"Why, get on board ourselves, and then hoist the old man up," answered
+Harry.  "We must not leave him in the boat, lest she should get stove
+in."
+
+The boys quickly scrambled up the ship's side.  Both her masts were
+gone, and the bowsprit had been carried away, with a considerable
+portion of the bulwarks, when the masts fell, and all her boats and
+caboose.  Altogether she had a very forlorn appearance, while there was
+no sign of a human being on board.  Their first care was to get up the
+old man.  Harry leaped down into the cabin of the brig, and instantly
+returned with a long horsehair sofa cushion.  "We must pass straps round
+this, and parbuckle him up," he observed.  Fortunately a davit remained.
+To this they secured a tackle, and David, jumping into the boat to pass
+the cushion under old Jefferies, they soon had him up safe on deck.
+They then, having got up the hamper of fish, with the bread and the jar
+of water, veered the boat away with a hawser astern.  They were now able
+for the first time to attend to the old man.  They examined his head,
+and finding where he had been struck, bathed the place with water, and
+they also poured a few drops of water down his throat.  This seemed to
+revive him greatly, and at last they thought that they might leave him,
+to examine the vessel.  The cold dull grey light of the early morning
+enabled them to do so.  The brig had not long been deserted, and great
+was their satisfaction to find all sorts of things to eat on board--
+biscuits, and even soft bread, though it was rather stale, and a box of
+eggs, and bacon and cheese, and even some cooked meat, and there were
+also melons, and oranges, and dried figs, and grapes, and other fruits,
+which showed that she had probably come from a warm country, where these
+fruits grew; indeed, they afterwards learned from some papers they
+found, that she was the _Fair Ianthe_, and was from the Mediterranean,
+homeward bound.  While Harry and David were examining one of the
+lockers, they felt something moving against their legs.  They looked
+down, and saw a fine white cat, which by her movements, and the pleased
+purrs she gave when she saw that she was noticed, seemed to welcome
+them.
+
+"She must be a fairy, or the good genius of the ship," exclaimed David.
+"Or, if she is a mere mortal cat, she must be very hungry, as I am sure
+I am, so let us go up and breakfast on deck, and try and get the old man
+to eat something."
+
+"Do you know, I think that he would do much better down below, if we
+could take off his wet things, and put him to bed," observed Harry.
+
+To this David agreed, and, after they had eaten a little bread, for they
+would not give themselves time to take more, they contrived, with
+considerable exertion, to lower old Jefferies into the cabin, and to put
+him into bed.  This done, they lighted a fire in the cabin stove, and
+made tea and boiled some eggs, and did some rashers.  They wisely, also,
+took off their own wet things, which they hung up to dry, while they put
+on some clothes which they found in the cabin.  What a hearty breakfast
+they made!--and if it had not been for the thoughts of the poor lad who
+had gone overboard, and the anxiety of their friends, they would have
+pronounced themselves very jolly.  As it was, it cannot be said that
+they were very unhappy.  At last they contrived to get old Jefferies to
+swallow some tea, and a little substantial food, for which he seemed
+much the better, and in a few minutes they had the satisfaction of
+seeing him drop off into a sound sleep.
+
+Harry and David returned to their meal, for they still felt somewhat
+hungry.  They soon began to nod, and at last David's head dropped on the
+table.
+
+"I shall be off too, if I don't jump on deck and look after the boat,
+and see how the weather is," said Harry.  He found the boat secure, but
+the weather very dull and far from promising, though there was then but
+little wind.  He scanned the horizon.  Not a sail was in sight, and
+unless with a stronger breeze than then blew, none could approach for
+some time to come.  On examining the vessel he thought that there was no
+danger of her sinking; indeed, except that she had lost her mast, he
+could not make out why she had been deserted.  He judged by the way she
+rolled that she was slightly leaking, and had made some water.  "We'll
+pump her out by and by, and she will be all right till we get a fair
+breeze to return home," he thought to himself.  "Perhaps we may carry
+her in, and obtain salvage.  That would be very fine, better than all
+the prize-money I am likely to make for a long time to come."  Such were
+the ideas that floated through his mind as he returned to the cabin.  A
+comfortable-looking bed invited him to rest, and rousing up David for a
+moment, he made him crawl half asleep into another.  Both of them in
+half a second were soundly sleeping, and had the tempest again arisen,
+they would not probably have awakened then.
+
+Very different would have been the case had Harry been a captain, but
+the cares and responsibilities of midshipmen are light, and their
+slumbers sound.  Hours passed by, when they both started up, hearing a
+voice crying out, "Where am I?  What has happened?  Ah me! ah me!"  It
+was old Jefferies who spoke.  They went to him.  He had returned to
+consciousness, and now remembered the loss of his grandson.  They did
+their best to comfort the old man.  They felt that they had been
+remotely the cause of the lad's death.  "No fault of yours, young
+gentlemen," he answered to a remark one of them had made; "it was God's
+will to call the boy home.  We must never murmur at what God chooses to
+do.  He knows what's best for us.  Ah, if you had heard Mr Wesley
+preach, as I often have, you'd understand these things better than you
+do, perhaps."  They were glad to let him talk on, as the doing so seemed
+to divert his mind from his grief.  He told them much about the great
+preacher, and among other things that he was never stopped by weather
+from keeping an appointment, and that though wet through, with his high
+boots full of water, he would deliver his message of love to an
+assembled congregation before he would change his garments.
+
+While they were all asleep the fire had gone out.  They relighted it,
+and cooked an abundance of their fish, and spread their table with it,
+and several other things they had discovered.  They little knew how the
+time had gone by, and were therefore greatly surprised to find darkness
+again coming on.  The two lads hurried on deck, followed by old
+Jefferies.  The sky was still obscured.  No land was in sight, and only
+two or three sails could be observed in the far distance.  They watched
+them, but they were steering away from the ship.  It was evidently too
+late, even if old Jefferies had been strong enough, to leave her that
+day.  They therefore made up their minds to pass another night on board,
+and to leave early the next day.
+
+"If the sky is clear we may do so," observed Harry.  "But I have hunted
+everywhere, and can find no compass; so that unless we can see the
+stars, we shall be unable to steer a right course.  If we venture to
+make the attempt, we may perhaps find ourselves far away in the
+Atlantic, and never be able to return."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOUR.
+
+A STORM--THE BOAT LOST--A DISCOVERY--HARRY SAVES DAVID'S LIFE--PUMPING--
+THE STRANGE SAIL.
+
+Another night began on board the wreck.  The boys, however, saw nothing
+unpleasant in the prospect.  They had plenty of food and firing, their
+clothes were dry, old Jefferies appeared to be recovering, and they
+hoped he would be able to assist them in navigating the boat homeward.
+They agreed that they would be up by daylight, and fit the boat with a
+mast and sails and oars, besides loading her with as many provisions as
+she could carry.  They felt rather chilly, so they made up a fire, and
+sat chatting over it quite comfortably, till they almost forgot they
+were out on the ocean, no land in sight, in a dismasted vessel, and all
+by themselves.  Harry again broached the idea of carrying in the ship
+herself, but David doubted whether they could manage to do so.  Harry
+then explained that they might form ury-masts out of a number of spars
+lashed together, and that sails might be hoisted on these, fixed in
+different parts of the deck.
+
+"The rudder is in good order, so that we may just as easily find our way
+to the land, and into port, I hope, in the ship, as in the boat; while
+we shall be far more comfortable, and not much longer about it, I should
+think," he remarked.  "I only fear lest an enemy's cruiser should see
+us, and either take possession of the brig, or burn her, and carry us
+off prisoners."
+
+"Not much chance of that, I should hope," answered David.  "We should
+not prove a prize of much value, after all."
+
+"Oh, indeed! they would think it no small thing to capture a British
+naval officer," remarked the young mid, drawing himself up to his full
+height, which was not very great; "and I vote we do not give in without
+a fight for it."
+
+"But I only saw two guns on deck, and I do not think that we should be
+able to work them, even if we can find powder and shot," said David.
+
+"Oh, there is a store of both on board, depend on it, and if we put on a
+bold face, we may drive off an enemy, provided he is not a very big
+one," answered the midshipman.
+
+Some time was occupied in these discussions.  They then went on deck and
+looked about them.  Though a long slow swell swept as it were
+occasionally across the ocean, the surface was otherwise perfectly
+smooth; indeed, there was not a breath of air to disturb it, but a thick
+mist hung over the sea, which prevented any objects from being seen even
+at a short distance off.  This was as likely to prove advantageous to
+them as the contrary; and so, having taken a short walk on dock, they
+went below, said their prayers, found that the old man was asleep,
+turned in and followed his example.  Harry knew perfectly well that,
+according to strict discipline, a watch ought to have been kept, but he
+and David agreed that, as there was a calm, they could not be run down,
+and that the wreck was not likely to drift far from where they then
+were, while it was clearly far pleasanter to be asleep than walking the
+deck.  Hitherto they had not had time to examine the hold or the fore
+part of the vessel.  This, however, they purposed doing in the morning.
+Happy time of youth!  They slept very soundly and comfortably, looking
+forward with confidence to the future, and little dreaming what was to
+happen.  When people have been deprived of their night's rest, they
+frequently sleep a very long time on a stretch.  Harry was awaked by
+David, who exclaimed--
+
+"Dear me! the ship is tumbling about fearfully; the gale must have
+sprung up again."
+
+He then heard old Jefferies say, in a weak voice, "What, lads, are you
+there?  I was afraid that you had deserted the old man."
+
+"No, no, we would not do that," answered David.  "But I am afraid that
+the ship must be shaken to pieces if this continues."
+
+"If she has floated through one gale she may float through another.  We
+must trust in God," said the old man.  "Ah me!  I am very feeble.  If we
+couldn't put our faith in Him, we should be badly off indeed.  I cannot
+help myself, much less you."
+
+Harry was by this time fully awake, and called David to follow him on
+deck, to ascertain what was the matter.  When David got there, he wished
+himself below again.  The gale had returned with tenfold fury, and the
+helpless ship was driving before it, surrounded by high foaming and
+roaring seas; the mist had cleared away, but the clouds were as thick as
+ever, chasing each other across the sky.  Nothing else was to be seen.
+Mountain waves and dark clouds almost pressing down on their heads--no
+sail in sight to bring them assistance.  So violently was the ship
+tossed about, that they could scarcely keep their feet, even by holding
+on.
+
+"Oh, the boat! the boat!" shouted David.  Just before, they had seen her
+still afloat, secured by the hawser, when a heavy sea, rolling towards
+the ship, broke aboard the boat, and filled her in an instant.  She rose
+on the top of a high foaming sea, when the thwart to which the two ropes
+were secured was torn out of her, and the next moment she sunk from
+sight.  The boys looked at each other for a minute or more without
+speaking.
+
+"We shall have to stick to the ship now, at all events," said Harry at
+last.
+
+"I hope that the ship will stick to us, and keep afloat, then," remarked
+David.
+
+"We'll sound the well presently, and see what water she has in her,"
+said Harry.  "In the meantime, let us go down into the hold, and see of
+what her cargo consists.  Much depends on that, whether or not she keeps
+afloat.  I want to have a look into the fore peak also; I cannot make
+out why the vessel should have been deserted."
+
+The main hatch was on, and as it would have been dangerous to lift it,
+even if they could have done so, when any moment the deck might have
+been swept by a sea, they worked their way on to the fore hatch.  This
+was not secured.  They descended.  It was some time before they could
+see about them in the close, dark, and dirty abode of the seamen.  On
+either side were bed-places, one above another, with a few large wooden
+chests below them, and jackets and trousers, and various other articles,
+hanging up against the bulkhead.  They observed nothing of consequence,
+and as the atmosphere was stirring, they were about to climb up again on
+deck, when a low groan was heard.  Both were brave fellows, but it must
+be confessed that their hearts sunk, and their first impulse was to
+hurry up the ladder as fast as they could go.  Again there was a groan.
+They looked at each other.  Was it a human voice?  There could be little
+doubt about that.  Where could it come from?  They stopped for a few
+seconds, holding on to the ladder, to recover their composure.  The
+voice came from one of the berths; of that they were soon satisfied.
+Just then Harry observed a small locker close to the ladder, and putting
+in his hand found a candle and tinder-box.  A light was soon struck; and
+they approached the berth whence the groans had proceeded.  It is not
+surprising that they should have started back with horror.  The dim
+light of the candle fell on the ghastly features of a human being, who,
+except that his eyes moved wildly, might have been taken for a corpse.
+His beard was long and tangled, and blood, which had flowed from a
+fearful gash across his brow, stained the blankets in which he was
+wrapped.  His eyes were staring wildly, his mouth was open.  He seemed
+at the point of death.  Yet he was not dying of starvation, for within
+his reach hung a bottle of water and a bag of biscuits.  Why, however,
+he had been deserted was a mystery which he himself seemed incapable of
+solving.  In vain Harry and David asked him.  Not a word did he speak in
+answer to their questions.  He was, however, conscious of their
+presence, they thought, by the way his eyes followed them as they moved
+about the cabin.  Had they discovered him before, they might have been
+of some assistance to him, but they could not now even attempt to move
+him into another berth.  David, however, undertook to get some better
+food from the cabin.  Harry did not feel altogether comfortable when
+left alone with the dying man.  He looked so horrible, and the groans
+which he uttered were so fearful.  David seemed to be absent a long
+time.  He did not like to leave the wretched man, or he would have gone
+to look for him.  What could have become of David?  The sea every now
+and then washed with a loud sound across the deck.  Could he have been
+carried away by it?  How dreadful the thought!  He went back to the
+dying man, and stood over him, hoping that he might return, to
+consciousness.  Suddenly the man sat up, and pointing with his thin hand
+across the cabin, uttered a loud shriek, and sinking back was a corpse.
+The young midshipman was left alone in the dark fore peak of the sinking
+vessel.  The sad thought came across him that perhaps he might be the
+only living person on board.  Old Jefferies was apparently on the point
+of death, and perhaps David had been washed overboard.  As he could be
+of no use where he was, he determined to ascertain the worst, and
+climbed up on deck, immediately closing the hatch again.  He looked
+about him.  David was not to be seen.  Even during the time he had been
+below matters had grown worse--the ship was tumbling about more than
+ever, and the seas, which rose high above the bulwarks, seemed every
+instant about to engulf her.  But where was David?  He worked his way,
+not without great danger of being carried overboard, to the companion
+hatch, over which, stooping down, he shouted David's name.  His heart
+sank within him.  There was no answer.  "David!  David!" he cried again.
+"Oh, David, where are you?"  Was his dear brave friend really gone?
+Just then he observed that some rigging had been washed over the
+starboard quarter, and he fancied that he heard a faint cry.  From the
+temporary position of the wreck, the sea ceased just then to break
+aboard.  Harry sprang aft, and there, clinging desperately to the
+rigging, now almost under water, now lifted into the air, as the stern
+of the ship was thrown upwards, he saw David.  His friend recognised
+him, but seemed unable to speak.  Though Harry could not swim he could
+climb well, and was strong and active.  His immediate impulse was to
+fasten a rope round his own waist, the other end secured round a
+stanchion, and to spring towards David.  "We will die together," he said
+to himself as he did so, "or I will save him.  May we be protected!"  He
+alighted on a spar close to David, whose arm he saw was caught by a
+rope, from which he could not disengage himself.  To do this without the
+risk of his friend being washed away was no easy task.  He succeeded at
+length, however, in doing so, and by an effort, of which he would not
+have thought himself capable, he scrambled up on deck again by means of
+the tangled mass of ropes, and tattered sails and spars, which hung
+overboard.  Then, dreading that another sea would come and sweep them
+back together into the seething ocean, they tottered to the companion
+hatchway, down which Harry half dragged, half carried his friend,
+closing the hatch above him.  Scarcely had he done so than a tremendous
+blow on the hatch, and the loud rushing sound of the water as it passed
+over the deck, told them that another sea had broken aboard, which would
+in all probability have swept them away to destruction.  They fell on
+their knees in thankfulness as they reached the cabin, that they had
+been thus providentially preserved.  They then went to the berth in
+which old Jefferies lay.  He was still too weak to move, but perfectly
+sensible.  They told him what had just occurred, and of the death of the
+poor seaman whom they had discovered in the fore peak.  He could not
+conjecture why the man had been left there.  The boys, however, thought
+that, by examining all the papers, they might elucidate the mystery.
+They feared, from the appearance of the poor stranger, that some foul
+deed had been done on board.  Now, however, they were more concerned
+about themselves.  The brig had hitherto withstood all the buffeting she
+had received without apparently leaking much, but would she continue to
+do so?  Old Jefferies thought not.  He had heard, he said, strange
+sounds as he lay in bed, which he knew well proceeded from water forcing
+its way into the hold, or rather from the air which was thereby forced
+out--groans, and sighs, and low cries.
+
+"Some people, when they hear these sounds for the first time, think that
+the ship is full of ghosts and spirits, and that they are crying out
+that she is going down," observed the old man.  "But I know better.  I
+wish that I hadn't heard them, for they make me sad.  Not for myself,
+though, for I am well-nigh worn out, and that poor boy's death weighs
+heavy on me.  I daren't face his grandmother, and tell her that he is
+gone.  But, boys, I am sorry for you.  You are young and full of life,
+and there are many who love you on shore, and will mourn your loss."
+
+"What, do you think that the ship is going down?" exclaimed Harry and
+David together, in a very natural tone of dismay.
+
+"It would be cruel in me not to tell you so, and I hope that you are
+prepared to die, my boys," answered the old man.  "Still I don't say but
+that in God's mercy you may escape.  A vessel may heave in sight in time
+to take you off, or you may build a raft, and it may float you till you
+are picked up.  I don't say give in, but be prepared for the worst."
+
+The boys listened calmly to what the old man said.
+
+"We will hope for the best, rig the pumps, and try and keep her free,"
+answered Harry.
+
+"Not much hope of that, I fear," said the old man.  "We can but try,"
+exclaimed David.  "Let us go on deck at once, and see what we can do."
+
+"You may be washed overboard if you go now on deck," said old Jefferies.
+"You must wait till the sea goes down again somewhat, and you may then
+pump away with a will."
+
+The latter part of this advice the boys agreed, after waiting some time,
+to disregard.  If the ship was sinking, the sooner the water could be
+pumped out of her the better.  They fancied, also, that she rolled less
+than before.  In spite of the old man's warnings, they once more,
+therefore, found their way on deck.  The state of the wreck seemed
+almost hopeless, but, like brave boys as they were, they still kept to
+their resolution of trying to pump out the water.  They fortunately
+found the brake of the pump, as the handle is called, and shipping it,
+began to work away with might and main.  The water quickly came up in a
+clear, bright stream, which told too plainly, without their sounding the
+well, the large amount of water which had either leaked in or found its
+way below.  They had left their coats and shoes in the cabin, everything
+that would encumber them, in case they should be washed from their hold.
+The waves rose up around them, the spray in dense showers dashing every
+instant over their heads, and almost blinding them when it struck them
+in the face.  Still undaunted they stood at their post.
+
+"This must tell," exclaimed David, as he watched the full stream flowing
+from the pump.  "If we get the ship clear, all may yet be well."
+
+"It may be coming in faster than we are pumping it out," said Harry.
+"Still it may keep us afloat till help comes."
+
+"I am afraid that there is not much prospect of that," said David.
+"Though, to be sure, we cannot be so very far from land, or those
+screeching seagulls would not be hovering about us."
+
+"They have powerful wings, and can fly a long way from land," observed
+Harry.  "Those come probably from the west coast of Ireland."
+
+These remarks were made at intervals and by jerks, as it were, while
+they stopped pumping for an instant to change their position.  They were
+encouraged to persevere, first, by believing that their efforts were
+producing some effect on the amount of water in the ship, and then, by
+observing that the sea was again going down.  During one of these
+intervals, when the wreck had been thrown higher up than usual, Harry
+exclaimed, "A sail! a sail! she is standing this way."
+
+The glimpse was momentary, and before David could catch sight of the
+stranger the ship had again sunk into the trough of the sea.  In vain
+David looked out for the ship.  Still Harry asserted that he was not
+mistaken.  After pumping for some time they were compelled to knock off
+from fatigue.  For fear of being washed away they lashed themselves to
+the stump of the nearest mast, and thus secured they lay down on the wet
+deck to rest.  Again they rose bravely to their work, but each tune they
+had to stop pumping they rested for a longer period, and continued
+pumping after it for a shorter period.
+
+David, at last, caught sight of the vessel Harry had seen, and was also
+of opinion that she was approaching them.  The hope of being saved,
+which had never died, now grew stronger and stronger.  Now, as the wreck
+was lifted up the side of a sea, or the stranger mounted a foaming
+billow, her whole hull was visible, and they saw she was a long, low
+black schooner.  Even at that distance Harry did not like her
+appearance.  To satisfy himself he went to the companion hatch, inside
+of which a telescope was hung up.  With it both he and David took a more
+exact examination of the stranger, and came to the same conclusion.
+
+"She is not an English craft, of that I am certain," observed Harry.
+"She may be a privateer, but is more like those rascally pirates who
+infest the West Indies and African coast, and used to be found down on
+the Spanish main; she has a large crew, too, I see.  Now, I suspect, if
+we were to get aboard her the fellows would make us join them or walk
+the plank.  Still, it might be better to pretend to enter on board than
+to go down with this wreck.  What do you say?"
+
+"If yonder craft is of the character you fancy, I say let us stick to
+the wreck; but we will ask old Jefferies what he thinks about it--we
+wouldn't leave him on any account; at the same time, if he wishes to go,
+I should say that we ought to go."
+
+"I agree with you," answered Harry.  "Let us pump away till she gets
+nearer, and then we will go and consult Jefferies."
+
+The schooner approached, and a nearer view only confirmed the boys in
+their opinion of her character.  Why she came near the wreck it was
+difficult to say.  Another look through the spy-glass showed them a
+number of men on board and several guns on her deck.
+
+"I do not suppose they will trouble themselves about us unless we hail
+them, and then, perhaps, they might endeavour to take us off the wreck,
+but I am not quite certain about it," observed Harry.  They were
+standing while speaking inside the companion hatch, with their heads
+just above it.
+
+The schooner was coming up fast.  Suddenly the ports nearest them were
+opened, wreaths of smoke burst forth, and several shots whistled close
+above their heads, one going through the bulwarks and ploughing up the
+deck.  Their impulse was to jump below.  They could do nothing to help
+themselves, but they hoped that the strangers would not continue to make
+a target of them.
+
+Jefferies had heard the shots, and wondered why they had been fired.
+When they told him their suspicions, he advised them to keep below.
+
+"I have my thoughts on the subject," he remarked.  "Hark! they are
+firing again; there! another shot struck the ship.  If it was not for
+the heavy sea running we should be worse off than we are.  It is no easy
+matter to take aim from the deck of a craft tumbling about as the
+schooner must be.  If it was, depend upon it there would be a score or
+more sent into the brig between wind and water."
+
+"But why should the schooner's people be so anxious to make a target of
+the brig?" asked David.
+
+"To sink her," answered the old man.  "They think, if fallen in with,
+she might tell a tale they don't wish to have known.  That's my notion,
+but I may be wrong."
+
+"There they go again at it!" exclaimed Harry.  "Two shots struck us.
+Don't you think, David, that we had better go on deck and show
+ourselves?  They would scarcely try to sink the wreck if they found that
+there were people on board, even though they might not take us off."
+
+"The very reason that would make them still more anxious to send us to
+the bottom.  You had better not show yourselves," said the old man; but
+the lads did not hear him, for they were already on their way on deck.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIVE.
+
+MAKING A RAFT--AFLOAT ON IT--THE GRIEF AT HOME--CAPTAIN RYMER'S
+APPOINTMENT--THE VOYAGE.
+
+That raging sea, which it appeared at first would prove the destruction
+of those on board the brig, was in reality the means of their
+preservation.  Just as the boys got their heads above the companion
+hatch, another whole broadside was let fly, and though many of the shots
+passed over the ship, two or three struck her between wind and water.
+Had the sea been calmer, many more probably would have found their way
+through her sides, and she must instantly have gone to the bottom.  Such
+was the fate the boys, not without good reason, now anticipated for her.
+Another broadside would prove sufficient.
+
+"Had we not better show ourselves, and ask to be taken on board?" said
+David.
+
+"What, boys, and be murdered!" cried the old man from below.  "Stick to
+the ship, and don't trust those villains.  There's One who will take
+care of you if you put faith in Him."
+
+"Old Jefferies is right.  Let us die rather than go on board the
+pirate," said Harry.
+
+Once more they climbed up the companion ladder, from which they had
+jumped down at the last broadside.  They watched the schooner.  She had
+tacked, as if about to run down close to them, and deliver another
+broadside.  Seeing this, they were prepared to leap back into the cabin,
+when suddenly she hauled her tacks aboard, and stood directly away from
+them.  Did her crew believe that the shots they had fired would speedily
+effect their supposed purpose, and take the brig to the bottom, or were
+they only firing for practice?  As soon as the schooner had got a little
+distance off, the boys jumped on deck and hurried to the pump.  Harry
+first sounded the well.  His face grew very serious.
+
+"David," he said, "the water has gained fearfully on us.  The shot-holes
+must be letting in the water fast, and I do not think that the brig can
+float another hour--perhaps not ten minutes."
+
+"What are we to do, then?" asked David.
+
+"Build a raft," answered Harry.  "There are plenty of spars.  I saw some
+carpenter's tools and large nails in the cabin, and we may break off the
+hatches.  They will help us.  We must be sharp about it, though."
+
+Of this there could be no doubt.  That they might give the old fisherman
+a better chance of saving his life, they agreed to get him up first.  By
+taking an abundance of food and rest, he had greatly recovered his
+strength, and was now able to do as they proposed.
+
+"If I cannot work, I may give you my advice," he observed.  "I have more
+than once had to trust to a raft for my life."
+
+The cat followed them on deck.  The old man shook his head when he saw
+her.
+
+"She knows that the cabin is no longer a safe place for her, and that
+she will be better off up here," he said, as the boys placed him on a
+heavy coil of rope near the mainmast.  The ship was happily more quiet
+than she had before been, and the boys, having collected all the spars
+and planks they could find, as well as some chairs and a table from the
+cabin, commenced, under old Jefferies' directions, to form the proposed
+raft.  They worked away with all their might, knowing well that a few
+minutes' delay would be fatal.  A large raft was not required, as it had
+to support only three persons and their provisions.  The great thing was
+to make it strong enough.  They brought up all the small rope they could
+find and lashed the stoutest of the spars together, so as to form an
+oblong framework, with a centre spar as a keel.  They further secured
+them with large nails.  Then they placed planks and smaller spars across
+this, with the table, top downwards, and the chairs on their backs,
+secured to it.  They managed to wrench off two of the cabin doors, and
+these, nailed down and lashed across the raft, raised the deck and
+increased its strength.  Besides the chairs, there were some strong
+stools in the cabin.  These they nailed down at each corner, and secured
+them also by lashings, with their legs up.  They then passed ropes round
+the legs, thus forming a sort of bulwark that might save them from being
+washed off the raft.  They had still much to do after this before the
+raft would be complete.  They wanted a couple of chests in which to keep
+their provisions, a cask for water, a mast and sails, and oars, and
+blankets to keep them warm at night.  They had been some time at work,
+and the water was already over the cabin floor.  Any attempt to save the
+vessel was now hopeless.  Harry, happening to look up, saw what, had he
+been on the watch, he would have observed long before, a large ship,
+under a press of sail, at no great distance.  Was the wreck seen by
+those on board?  If so, their prospect of escape was greatly improved.
+They hoped that they were seen, for although they were thankful that
+they had had time to form a raft, they knew well that at best it was a
+perilous means of support, that it might be upset or dashed to pieces,
+or that they might float about on it unseen till all their provisions
+and water were exhausted, and then die of starvation and thirst.  They
+earnestly hoped, therefore, that they might be seen from the passing
+ship.  They had reserved a short spar as a mast for the raft.  To this
+they fastened a flag, and secured it to the mainmast.  So occupied were
+they, indeed, in watching the stranger, that for a few minutes they
+forgot to go on with their raft, till recalled by old Jefferies to
+continue the important work.  They had now to search for some chests.
+They had seen several in the fore peak.  It was with a degree of awe,
+perhaps not altogether free from fear, that they again went to where the
+dead seaman lay.  They quickly cut two chests clear of the lashings
+which secured them, and were emptying them of their contents, when they
+came upon a box or case, the size of an ordinary writing-case.  It was
+of foreign manufacture, and secured with strong brass bands.  When
+taking it out with other things, Harry heard a sound like the chink of
+money within.  He shook it.  There was no doubt about the matter.
+"We'll keep it.  It may be useful, and it is our lawful prize," he
+observed, as he put it back into the chest.  Fastening ropes to the
+handles of the chests, they were soon hauled on deck, and secured to the
+raft.  Now came the important work of provisioning their ark of safety.
+They had already got on deck some biscuits, and salt beef and pork
+uncooked.  They again descended for more articles which they had seen,
+and which, together with some blankets, they brought up.  Once more they
+went below, and even during the short time they had been on deck, they
+observed that the water had considerably risen.  Still they were
+persevering in their search for more provisions, when old Jefferies'
+voice summoned them hastily on deck.
+
+"She is going down!--she is going down!" he shouted.
+
+They rushed up, and had just time to drag him on to the raft, and to
+seize the oars and spars they had got ready, when the vessel's bow rose,
+and her stern gradually sank, till she glided away towards the bottom,
+literally from beneath their feet.  Just before this the cat, who seemed
+determined to stick to the vessel to the last, made a spring on to the
+raft, where she stood trembling with fear and astonishment at the
+disappearance of her home.  As soon as the water reached the raft, by
+means of the poles they shoved off from the wreck, and then pulled away
+with all their might, so as completely to clear her.  The raft rocked
+violently, and, in spite of all their efforts, seemed dragged towards
+the vortex formed by the sinking vessel.  In another instant the brig
+was no longer to be seen, and her secret, whatever it was, was buried
+with her.  They looked anxiously around.  The ship was standing in the
+direction the schooner had gone.  They floated alone on that wild,
+stormy waste of waters.  The old man had been placed in the middle of
+the raft, while the boys took their places on either side of him,
+endeavouring with the oars to keep the raft before the seas.  Among
+other things placed on it were some carpenter's tools, spars, blankets,
+and a good supply of rope.  They had thus the means of rigging a mast.
+They did this by nailing boards between the two front legs of the table,
+and lashing the mast to the middle of the boards, while they carried
+stays forward and on either side.  The wind was so much warmer, that
+they supposed it must have shifted to the west, though the thick clouds
+which still shrouded the sky prevented them from finding out the points
+of the compass.  By Jefferies' advice, they continued making the
+arrangements which have been described, though they still hoped they
+might be seen from the passing ship, which Harry declared to be the
+frigate to which he belonged--the _Ariadne_.  At last, however, they had
+to abandon this hope, as the frigate continued her course, in chase,
+apparently, of the mysterious schooner.  Unless seen by some other
+vessel, Harry and David felt that they must now, humanly speaking,
+depend on their own exertions for reaching the shore.  Harry rigged a
+mast; they next fitted a sail, and with no small satisfaction hoisted
+it.  By fixing an oar so as to act as a rudder astern, the raft, as soon
+as the sail was hoisted, behaved remarkably well, and glided over the
+seas with considerable ease and rapidity.  Their spirits rose again, for
+they fully believed that they should in two or three days reach either
+the English or the Irish coast.  They had no idea how far to the
+westward they had been driven.  By degrees the sea went down, which was
+very pleasant, but so also did the wind, till it became a perfect calm.
+An end was thus put to their hopes of soon reaching the land.  However,
+they were far more comfortable than they had been for some time.  The
+afternoon sun shone out brightly, and dried their clothes; and they had
+plenty to eat--biscuits, and cooked meat, and cheese and butter, and
+figs and raisins, and several other fruits, and some bottles of wine, of
+which they wisely partook very sparingly.  It, however, did the old man
+much good, and he appeared to have recovered both his strength and
+spirits.  Although well off in many respects, they had, however, a
+scarcity of one article, without which they could not hope to prolong
+existence.  That was water.  They could only secure one small cask, and
+they saw, therefore, that they must husband the precious liquid with the
+greatest care.
+
+They now floated tranquilly on the calm waters, and though they would
+far rather have been sailing northward, they were thus enabled to
+strengthen the raft, and to prepare for it encountering any more rough
+weather which might come on.  They had made old Jefferies as comfortable
+as they could in the centre of the raft, and they soon had the satis
+faction of finding that he had fallen asleep.  Having accomplished all
+that could be done, they began to chat away as composedly as if nothing
+very particular had occurred.  They went on, indeed, almost with the
+conversation which had been interrupted when they discovered that the
+rock on which they were sitting was surrounded by water.  Strange to
+say, Harry expressed no wish or intention of leaving the profession he
+had embraced should they reach the shore, while David was as determined
+as ever to enter it should he be able to obtain his father's leave.  No
+wonder, when the long list of glorious victories won by the British navy
+was fresh in the memory of the nation, and naval officers in all social
+circles were looked upon and courted as heroes.  At length old Jefferies
+awoke.
+
+"Now, boys, you must take your rest," he said.  "You have watched for
+me, and now I'll watch for you.  It won't do for us all to nap together,
+and if I see any change I'll call you.  Never fear, puss and I will look
+after the ship."
+
+The boys did not require a second bidding, but stretching themselves
+inside the legs of the upturned table, were soon fast asleep.
+
+We must now return for a short time to their friends on shore.  Poor
+Mrs Merryweather was almost broken-hearted on being at length compelled
+to give up all hopes of ever again seeing her gallant son, and on being
+able to account in no other way for his and his friend's disappearance
+than that they had fallen over a cliff, or been washed away by the sea.
+She knew where to go for comfort and consolation; and her chief
+satisfaction, when she heard that old Mrs Jefferies had lost her
+husband and grandson on the same night, was to show her whence she could
+derive the same consolation she herself had found.  It was a sore trial
+to the poor old woman.  Mr and Mrs Morton also did their best to
+comfort her; indeed, had it not been for them she would have been
+compelled to resort to the workhouse for support.  They sympathised with
+the old woman, not because they were aware of the service her husband
+had rendered those dear to them, but because, as they supposed, a like
+calamity had overtaken her and themselves at the same time.  Still Mr
+Morton did not cease for a long time to have search made for them, till
+at length he was with a sad heart compelled to give it up in despair.
+Captain Rymer sympathised heartily with his neighbour's misfortune, and
+pretty little Mary shed many a tear for the loss of her two friends.
+Several months passed by, and still no news came of the lost ones.  With
+great reluctance the two families at length went into mourning.  It was
+a sad day, for it was an acknowledgment that hope was given up, and that
+the two dear lads were no longer among the living.
+
+One morning Captain Rymer and his family were seated at breakfast; Mrs
+Rymer had just poured out a cup of tea, and Mary had handed it to him
+with a slice of toast which she had carefully buttered, when the
+post-bag was brought into the room.  He opened it, and drew forth a long
+official-looking envelope.
+
+"No other letter?" asked his wife.
+
+"No, not one; and this is probably of no great importance either," he
+answered, placing it by his side, and beginning to eat the toast Mary
+had just given him.  Captain Rymer had been actively engaged during the
+whole of the late war in many dangerous and arduous services, and, like
+other officers, felt somewhat aggrieved that his services had not been
+fully recognised.  He had frequently applied for some civil appointment,
+but his requests had not been attended to, and the only results were
+polite answers, couched in the same official language, stating that his
+merits would be duly considered.  At last he made up his mind that he
+was to be laid on the shelf, and that he should never get anything.
+However, when he had finished his toast, he opened the letter.
+
+"This is indeed what I little expected," he exclaimed.  "I am appointed
+as Lieutenant-Governor of Saint -- in the West Indies.  It is one of the
+most healthy of the islands.  I have often been there; indeed, it is in
+consequence of my knowledge of the inhabitants that I have been
+selected; and you will all be able to accompany me."
+
+This information, as may be supposed, caused a great deal of excitement
+in the family.  As Captain Rymer was ordered to proceed at once, there
+was no time to be lost in making the necessary preparations.  Their
+friends called to congratulate, and at the same time to express their
+regret at losing them.  The Mortons, and poor Mrs Merryweather, would
+certainly miss them more than anybody else.  Mary could not help looking
+forward with pleasure to the interesting places she would probably
+visit, and the new style of life she would have to lead; though she was
+very sorry to leave so many kind friends, and the attached servants, who
+could not accompany them.  In those days outfits were not to be
+procured, nor other arrangements made, so rapidly as at present, and
+Captain Rymer found it impossible to be ready to sail in the ship
+appointed to carry him out.  He had, therefore, to take his passage in a
+West India trader, to sail a few weeks later.  The _Betsy_ was a fine
+large ship, carrying guns, to enable her to defend herself against the
+pirates and small privateers, often no better, which at that time
+infested the Caribbean Sea, and especially on the Spanish main and round
+the coast of Cuba.  The cabins of the _Betsy_, on board which many
+wealthy West India planters frequently came backwards and forwards, were
+for their accommodation fitted up in a style of luxury seldom found on
+board merchantmen in general.  The _Betsy_ put into Falmouth to take the
+family and their baggage on board.  She then had to remain till joined
+by several other West India ships.  Everything was then made ready for
+sailing, and a bright look-out was kept for another fleet, bound in the
+same direction, coming down channel under convoy of two men-of-war.
+They were at length descried, and the ships in Falmouth harbour
+immediately got under weigh, and stood out to join them.  At that time,
+although most of the men-of-war carrying the flag of England's enemies
+had been swept from the seas, a large number of their privateers still
+remained to annoy and often injure her commerce.  It was therefore not
+considered safe for merchantmen to sail without the protection of one or
+more men-of-war.  Mary was delighted with the appearance of the cabins,
+so luxurious compared to what she had expected; and she was still more
+pleased when, on going on deck, she observed a large fleet of stately
+ships with which she was surrounded.  The water was calm, the sky clear,
+and the sun shone brightly on the pyramids of white canvas towering up
+from the black, shining, freshly painted hulls which floated on the blue
+ocean in all directions.  On the outskirts were the still more stately
+men-of-war, their bright-coloured signal flags continually moving up and
+down, while they occasionally fired a gun either on one side or the
+other, in rather a difficult attempt to keep their somewhat refractory
+charges on their proper course.  Mary, after watching the manoeuvres of
+the men-of-war and the fleet of merchant vessels for some time,
+exclaimed--
+
+"Why, papa, they put me in mind of a herd of cattle driven through the
+country, the drovers running here and there, shouting loudly, and
+sending their sharp barking dogs now to one side, now to the other, to
+keep them together."
+
+"Not a bad idea, Mary," answered Captain Rymer.  "But should thick
+weather come on, or a heavy gale spring up, the work will be much more
+difficult.  Sometimes a whole herd, as you would call them, is
+scattered, and lions or wolves occasionally pounce down on the weakest,
+and carry them off."
+
+"I hope that will not be our fate, papa," said Mary, timidly.
+
+"No fear of that, dearest.  I am sorry that I should have put such a
+notion into your head," answered Captain Rymer.  "The _Betsy_ is a
+well-found ship, well manned and well armed, and Captain Bolton has the
+character of being a first-rate seaman, so that we have every reason for
+expecting to arrive in safety at our destination."
+
+"Oh, I am not at all afraid," said Mary.  "Besides, you know, papa, we
+can pray to be protected; and what a comfort it is, and how brave it
+should make us, to know that God hears our prayers, and will grant them
+whenever He sees that to do so is best for us!"
+
+What a support in daily life, what a consolation to the voyager over the
+stormy ocean, is a firm confidence in that glorious truth!
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIX.
+
+ON THE RAFT--THE SHARK--THE SEA-FIGHT.
+
+The raft still floated uninjured; the sea continued perfectly calm.
+Harry and David retained their health and spirits, hoping that they
+should reach the land at last; and the old man appeared to be steadily
+recovering.  The calm tried them in one respect more than when the wind
+blew, because after the raft had been strengthened they had nothing to
+do.  They talked of the past and of the future, but even friends cannot
+talk on all day, especially if they are hungry and thirsty, and are
+anxious about any matter.  At last David recollected that they had taken
+some fishing lines and hooks out of the boat, and thrown them with other
+articles on the raft.  They were soon discovered, and the lads flattered
+themselves that they had nothing more to do than to bait the hooks, if
+bait could be found, and to throw them overboard.  Old Jefferies smiled
+when he saw their preparations, and told them that, although certain
+fish were to be caught occasionally in the open sea, the greater number
+were to be found along the coasts of the different countries of the
+world.  "To my mind God has so ordered it that all the fish which best
+serve for the food of man swim round and round the coasts of the
+countries of the world, in shallow water, where they can be got at and
+caught, or else they visit certain known spots, like the banks of
+Newfoundland, or the fishing grounds in the North Sea.  Now if they all
+lived in the deep seas, or kept wandering about to all parts just as
+fancy led them, fishermen would never know where to go and look for
+them.  Instead of that, as I have said, as the seasons come round, God
+leads them to the same places and almost on the same day every year; and
+so the fisherman is prepared with his nets or lines to catch them.
+However, I don't mean to say that there are no fish out even in
+mid-ocean, and if we get our lines, perhaps we shall catch some."
+
+The lines were fitted in different ways; one with a heavy lead that it
+might sink towards the bottom, the other to throw to a distance, and
+then to drag quickly back again.  The chief difficulty was with regard
+to the bait.  David, however, proposed using a piece of salt pork,
+though old Jefferies thought that no fish would bite at it.
+
+"I'll try, at all events," he answered; and baiting his hook he threw it
+skilfully to a considerable distance.  He tried over and over again till
+his arm grew tired, while Henry let his line down to its entire end, but
+neither of them got a bite.
+
+"Very little use, I am afraid," said Harry, drawing up his line.
+
+"Let it hang out, at all events.  It can do no harm, and something may
+take a fancy to it," observed David, again throwing his own line.
+"Halloa!  I have got something--a big fellow, too--he'll pull me off the
+raft if I don't take care.  Lend a hand, Harry."
+
+Harry took hold of the line.  Now they were able to haul in some of the
+line, and then again the fish swam off in an opposite direction,
+actually moving the raft.
+
+"It may be a porpoise," said Harry.
+
+"Perhaps it is a shark!" exclaimed David.  "It can't be a young whale."
+
+"It is a big fish of some sort, of that there is no doubt," responded
+Harry.  "The fellow will get tired before long, and then we will make
+him show his nose."
+
+"If he does not cut through the line before that," observed old
+Jefferies, who would not pronounce as to what fish it was.
+
+"If the line does not break I have little fear of its being cut through,
+for there is a long shank to the hook, and the line has never been
+slack," answered David, hauling in more of the line.
+
+The fish, if such it was, at length began to grow weary of towing the
+raft, and allowed himself to be drawn nearer and nearer till his mouth
+was seen for an instant close to the surface.
+
+"Ah!  I know him," exclaimed old Jefferies.  "A shark! a shark! he's as
+mischievous a fellow as any that swims, though he will hurt no one who
+does not put his hand down his mouth."
+
+He explained that the fish they had hooked was the _blue shark_, which,
+although he does not attempt to take the fisherman's life, is yet one of
+his greatest foes.  If he cannot bite through a line he often rolls it
+round and round himself in a way that is most difficult for the
+fisherman to undo; and sometimes he will swim among the nets, killing
+the fish in mere wantonness apparently, and biting the meshes.  Now and
+then, however, he gets caught himself--a small satisfaction considering
+the damage he causes.
+
+It took some time before his sharkship was wearied out, and when at
+length he was hauled up on the raft, it was found that he had contrived
+to wind several fathoms of the line round his body.  From the line
+having been kept tight, it was not so cleverly twisted as is often the
+case, and a blow on the tail quieted him before he had managed further
+to wriggle it round himself after he was out of the water.  When the
+line was unwound, and the shark stretched out, he was a handsome-looking
+fish of a blue lead colour, about four feet long.  Harry and David did
+not feel disposed to eat any of the shark, but when assured by the old
+fisherman that neither he nor any of his ancestors had ever touched
+flesh, they got over their reluctance, and as their appetites told them
+it was dinner-time, they each took a thin slice with some biscuit.  They
+agreed that when cooked it would be tolerable food.
+
+After this meal David, having got his line in order, and both their
+lines being baited with shark, they commenced fishing.  After some time
+Harry got a bite.
+
+"A fine fish, I am sure, by the way he tugged," he exclaimed, hauling up
+the line.
+
+It came up very easily, though, and instead of the large fish he
+expected, a small whiting appeared.  Several others were pulled up in
+succession.  As Harry was hauling in his line after a bite, he felt a
+heavy weight suddenly come on it.  Still he was able to get it in.
+
+"It is something curious, but what it can be I am sure I don't know," he
+exclaimed, hauling away, while David looked eagerly on.
+
+"What a monster!" they cried out both together, when a huge mass, with
+what looked like a number of snakes wriggling about round it, was seen
+on the surface amidst a circle of dark water.
+
+"That's a squid," remarked old Jefferies.  "Some of them are awkward
+customers in the water, but he can do you very little harm out of it."
+
+The truth of this last assertion was put to the test when, in spite of
+its struggles, the creature was hauled up on the raft, and its long arms
+chopped off.  It had expected simply to catch a whiting, and had itself
+been caught by the hook sticking through the whiting's mouth.  It was
+very untempting-looking for food, though they might have preferred it to
+shark flesh.  The whiting, however, supplied them with as much fish as
+they could eat raw.  Altogether they agreed that they had had a good
+evening's sport, and that if they could have forgotten where they were,
+and that their friends were anxious about them, they should have enjoyed
+themselves amazingly, only that they should have preferred cooked fish
+to raw.  As night, however, crept on, they began to feel the loneliness
+and helplessness of their position.  Still, the calm continued, and the
+stars shone forth, each spark of light being reflected in the
+mirror-like ocean; and Harry made out the polar star, and wished that
+there was a good breeze that they might steer by it towards England.
+The air was very chilly, but as they had saved several blankets, they
+wrapped themselves up, and kept tolerably warm.  As they had not got a
+lantern or candle, or any means of striking a light, they could do
+nothing, and so they chatted away till they both went off to the land of
+dreams.
+
+"Sleep on, my poor lads," said the old man, guessing by their silence
+what had happened.  "You little think of the danger you are in.  If a
+gale springs up, how is this small raft to weather it?  For myself, I am
+worn out, and my time must come in a year or two, or a few months it may
+be; but life is fresh and pleasant for the young lads.  Well, well, God
+is kind and just.  He knows what is best for them.  His will be done."
+
+The lives of most men are metaphorically varied by storms and calms,
+clouds and sunshine, and so in reality was the existence of our two
+young friends on the raft.  The night passed away quietly, and towards
+morning the old man, in spite of his intentions to keep watch, fell
+asleep.  David was the first to rouse up.  The sun had not risen, but a
+streak of red in the sky showed in what quarter he was about to appear.
+David stood up to look around him.  He would not call Harry till it was
+necessary, for he was sleeping so calmly, with a smile on his
+countenance, dreaming of some pleasant scenes at home, probably with his
+mother and sister present.  As David was thus standing up, holding on to
+the mast, he felt a light air fan his cheek.  It came from the south.
+He turned his eyes in that direction to look for a further sign of the
+wished-for breeze.  As he did so he observed in the horizon a sail--he
+judged a large ship.  Directly afterwards another appeared, in a
+different part of the horizon.  He watched them attentively for some
+time.  Their sails were filled with wind, and they seemed to be drawing
+nearer to each other, and also nearer to the raft.  As soon as it struck
+David that this was the case, he could no longer resist the temptation
+of rousing up his companion.  Harry sprang to his feet.  Midshipmen do
+not rub their eyes and yawn, and groan and growl, before they get up,
+especially if they happen to be sleeping on a raft in the chops of the
+channel.
+
+"Yes, they are standing this way," he exclaimed.  "They are frigates,
+and what is more, though one is English, I doubt by the cut of the sails
+whether the other is."
+
+"At all events we shall have a good chance of being picked up," said
+David.
+
+"I hope so; but if an idea which has struck me is correct, they will
+have too much to do to look after each other to take any notice of us,"
+observed the midshipman.
+
+"What do you mean?" asked David.
+
+"That one is English and the other French, and if so, it is not likely
+that, having come in sight of each other, they will part without
+exchanging shots," remarked Harry.
+
+"Unless the Frenchman runs away," said David.
+
+"No fear of that.  The monsieurs are brave fellows, though we can lick
+them, and it is not often they show the white feather," remarked Harry.
+"I really think that I am right.  They look to me like two frigates, and
+one I am sure is French.  We'll rouse up the old man, and hear what he
+has to say about the matter.  He'll not thank us for letting him sleep
+on."
+
+"The old man is awake," said Jefferies, sitting up and gazing in the
+direction indicated by the boys, under his open hand.  For some time he
+was silent.  "Yes, there's little doubt about the matter," he said at
+length.  "They are frigates, and one is English; the other is a
+foreigner, but whether Spaniard, Dutchman, or French, is more than I can
+say.  If they are going to fight, as you think, we can't help it,
+neither can we make them sail near enough to see us, and pick us up; but
+I'll tell you what we can do, young gentlemen, we can lift up our voices
+in prayer to God to thank Him for His favours, and to ask Him for His
+protection."
+
+All three knelt down, and lifted up their voices to God in prayer, with
+a heartiness which might be sought for in vain within the lofty walls of
+many a proud building.  Such is the spiritual worship in which God the
+Spirit alone has pleasure.  The party on that wave-tossed raft rose from
+their knees greatly refreshed in spirit, and sat down to enjoy their
+morning meal with hearts grateful that they had food sufficient to
+sustain life.  Soon after, the sun rose, as it were with a spring out of
+his ocean bed, and shed his light across the expanse of waters on the
+sails of the approaching ships, which seemed to have drawn suddenly
+near, so clear and defined did their forms become.  Harry watched with
+even greater eagerness than before one of the ships, which he declared
+was, he believed, that to which he belonged.  David was rather inclined
+to laugh at the notion, as he considered that it was impossible Harry
+should be able to know his own ship at so great a distance off.  There
+seemed to be no doubt that both were frigates--of that the old man
+expressed himself sure; that they were not both English he thought very
+likely.  As to the other point, it was, if correct, a guess of Harry's.
+They continued to draw nearer and nearer to each other, and as they
+approached the raft at the same time, the breeze which filled their
+sails reached her.
+
+"Shall we hoist our sails, and stand for the shore as before?" asked
+David.
+
+"We should miss the chance of being picked up if we did so," answered
+Harry.  "Besides, I should not like to run away without knowing after
+all whether the ships would fight, and who was the conqueror."
+
+"Not much chance of our getting out of sight before they begin, for they
+are already not far off gun-shot of each other," observed the old man,
+who again raised himself to look out, but sunk down once more to his
+seat in the centre of the raft.
+
+The two boys, however, stood up, holding on by the mast, in spite of the
+increasing rocking of the raft, watching eagerly the movements of the
+two frigates--for frigates there was no doubt they both were.
+
+"Up go the colours!" exclaimed Harry, with a shout.  "Hurrah!  There's
+the glorious old flag of England, and the other is French--there's no
+doubt about it.  Then there'll be a fight.  Hurrah!  I wish I was aboard
+the old ship; I'm sure it's her.  Couldn't we manage it even now?  Pull
+the raft up to her.  I wish that she would see us and pick us up.  Oh
+dear! how provoking!  I'd give anything to be on board!"  Such were the
+exclamations to which the young midshipman gave utterance, as he stood
+watching the ships.  "The old ship has tacked, she is standing away from
+us!  The Frenchman is about also.  They'll be away.  We shall not see
+any of the fighting after all."
+
+"We shall be less likely to suffer from their shots, and for that we may
+be grateful," observed the old man.
+
+The midshipman, so eager was he, scarcely listened to what was said.
+The frigates were manoeuvring, each endeavouring to gain the
+weather-gauge before commencing the action, which it was very evident
+would take place.  There appeared to be no lack of a disposition to
+fight on either side, for they both took in their lighter sails, and
+finally hauled up their courses.  Now the English frigate wore round,
+her example being followed by the Frenchman, both running back towards
+the raft, which it seemed that the former would pass by, or even run
+over, when suddenly she tacked, and standing close to a wind towards the
+French frigate, fired a broadside into her quarter, while the latter was
+in stays.  The effect of the broadside must have been severe, for it was
+some time before she actually got about, leaving to the English frigate
+the advantage of the weather-gauge, which had been the object of all the
+previous manoeuvres.  For some time the two ships ran on alongside of
+each other, rapidly exchanging shots, without any great apparent damage
+to the masts or rigging.  They were so placed that many of the shots
+which missed came flying towards the raft, but providentially she was
+too far off for them to reach her.  Once more the after-yards of the
+French ship being shot away, she kept off the wind, and, followed by her
+antagonist, stood towards the raft, still keeping up a hot fire at her.
+In a short time the damage was repaired, and once more the French ship
+hauling her wind, the two stood on together close-hauled.  It was
+evident, from the rapid way in which the French frigate's damages had
+been repaired, that she was well manned, and that the result was by no
+means so certain as Harry had at first anticipated.  The firing had had
+the effect, it appeared, of lessening the little wind there had
+previously been.  The two frigates, therefore, moved but slowly, and
+consequently kept within sight of those on the raft.  Harry was almost
+too eager to speak.  David now and then made a few remarks.  More than
+an hour had passed away since the commencement of the action, and as yet
+there was no visible advantage gained by either party.  Suddenly Harry
+gave a cry of anger and annoyance, in which David joined him.  The old
+man looked up.  There was cause for it.  The flag of England was seen to
+drop from the masthead of the frigate.  Could it be that she had struck?
+The firing continued as furious as ever.  No, it was impossible!
+
+"See! see! there's another flying out!" exclaimed the midshipman,
+exultingly.  "All right, some fine fellow has climbed up and nailed it
+there.  Only the halliards were shot away.  My captain would go down
+sooner than strike; I know that."
+
+The loud reports of the guns came succeeding each other rapidly over the
+calm ocean.  Now a loud crash, then a broadside was fired by both
+parties at once, the sound of the different guns blending into one; now
+a perfect silence, and then again single shots, and after a cessation
+another broadside.  At length the combatants scarcely moved, and became
+enshrouded in a dense cloud of smoke, which nearly concealed them from
+view.  The firing was more furious than ever.  They were yard-arm to
+yard-arm, discharging their broadsides into each other.  A light breeze
+played over the water--the ships emerged from the cloud of smoke.  The
+English frigate had lost her mizen-mast, and its wreck lay over her
+quarter.
+
+Harry groaned, but directly afterwards he shouted, "They'll not give in,
+though--they'll not give in, I am sure they won't."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVEN.
+
+THE UNION JACK BEATS--THE RAFT STILL UNSEEN--THE PRIVATEER--DEATH OF OLD
+JEFFERIES--THE FRENCH CAPTAIN.
+
+The loss of her mizen-mast did not appear to damp the ardour of the
+British frigate's crew.  The firing was continued with unabated fury on
+both sides, neither ship apparently moving through the water; now they
+were shrouded in smoke--now the smoke was blown away, and the firing
+ceased.  "The Frenchman's foremast is tottering!" shouted Harry.  "See!
+see!  David.  Down it comes--hurrah! hurrah!"  Still the flags of their
+respective countries waved at the mastheads of the frigates.  The mast
+did not come down either when Harry thought it would, neither did the
+firing cease altogether.  Faint sounds of musketry or pistol-shots came
+across the water--then three or four great guns were fired--the sides of
+the ships were close together, or rather, the bow of the English frigate
+was fast to the Frenchman's side.
+
+"They are boarding," cried Harry; "I know it must be that--then our
+fellows will win the day.--The Frenchman's flag will be down directly.
+Watch! watch!  I know it will."
+
+They waited eagerly, looking out for some time.  Suddenly a cloud of
+smoke ascended from one of the ships.  It was difficult to say from
+which; again and again the guns were fired.  "I am afraid that after all
+our friends are getting the worst of it," remarked David, with a sigh.
+
+"Oh, no, no! impossible!" exclaimed Harry.  "See, see! down comes the
+Frenchman's flag--hurrah! hurrah!  I knew it would be so.  Englishmen
+are never licked.  We would go down first with our colours flying.
+Hurrah! hurrah! we've gained the day."  Harry waved his cap above his
+head, and shouted long and loudly, communicating his enthusiasm, not
+only to David, but to the old man himself; but so vehement in his
+demonstrations of joy did he become at last, that he nearly upset the
+raft, and then well-nigh fell overboard himself.  David was rather more
+quiet in his demonstrations, still he did not feel less satisfaction
+probably than his friend.
+
+"We must get on board to congratulate them," exclaimed Harry; "I
+wouldn't miss that on any account; if we pull hard we shall be able to
+get up to them--eh, Mr Jefferies?  They will be some time repairing
+damages and shifting the prisoners, and they are not likely to make sail
+till then."
+
+"We mustn't count too much upon that, young gentleman; we are further
+off than you think, and darkness will be down over the ocean long before
+we can get up to them.  Besides, do you know, I don't think the sights
+aboard those ships, either the conqueror or the conquered, would be so
+pleasant as you suppose.  I know what a man-of-war is after a
+hard-fought battle.  The decks strewn with the dead, and slippery with
+blood and gore, the cockpit full of wounded men, lately strong and
+hardy, now cripples for life, many dying, entering into eternity,
+without a hope beyond their ocean grave, Christless, heathens in reality
+if not in name, stifled groans and sighs, and oftentimes shrieks of
+despair on every side.  Such sights I have seen in my youth, and I speak
+the language of some of the great preachers who have come down to these
+parts, and boldly put forth the gospel of salvation to perishing sinners
+under the blue vault of heaven.  You only look at one side of the
+picture, and that quickly vanishes away; mine, unhappily, is too real to
+be wiped out quickly."  The old man spoke in a tone he had not hitherto
+used, which showed that his education had been superior to that which
+men of his vocation generally possess.
+
+This remark, it must be confessed, considerably damped the ardour of the
+young midshipman.  The latter, however, still continued to urge him and
+David to try and get on board one of the ships.  They were in reality as
+anxious as he was to do so, for they could not but feel that they were
+exposed to many dangers while they remained on the raft.  The wind had
+dropped, and in one respect this was in their favour, as the frigates
+could not sail away; but what little wind there was was against them,
+and this made rowing their heavy craft more tedious.  They progressed
+very slowly, and after two hours' hard rowing they seemed no nearer than
+before.  The day was drawing on; still they persevered.  Hope continued
+to cheer the two boys, whatever the old man might have thought about the
+matter.  At last Harry stopped.  "They are making sail, and the breeze
+is getting up.  Oh dear! oh dear!  They'll be off before we can reach
+them.  Still we'll try--pull away, David, pull away, there's a good
+fellow."
+
+All the efforts of the lads brought them no nearer the two frigates.
+They could see the British ensign run up above that of the French.
+Still it was evident that they themselves were not observed: no wonder,
+under the circumstances, as everybody on board must have been busily
+engaged.  Still thus, as it were, to be deserted, was very trying to the
+young lads.  They bore up, however, manfully under the disappointment.
+
+"Perhaps the wind may fall or shift again, and they may have after all
+to take a tack this way," exclaimed Harry, whose hopeful enthusiasm it
+was impossible to damp.  At last the night returned, and the darkness
+shut out the frigates from their sight.  The lads had to while away the
+time by conversation, and expressed their intentions of not going to
+sleep during the night; they, however, stowed themselves away in their
+accustomed places, where, should they by any chance begin to slumber,
+they might not run the risk of falling into the sea.  For some time they
+kept to this resolution, Harry still buoyed up with the hope that they
+might get on board the frigate in the morning.  At last David's voice
+began to get very drowsy, so even did Harry's, and in spite of their
+strange position and their anxiety, first one and then the other dropped
+off to sleep.  The old man leaned forward to ascertain that they were
+both secure.
+
+"Sleep on, lads! sleep on!" he muttered.  "He who reigns above can alone
+tell whether or not this is the last night you will spend on earth.  I
+liked not the look of the sky when the sun went down, and before many
+hours have passed this frail raft may be tossing on an ocean of foaming
+seas."  The old man was silent, but he did not sleep.  Often he prayed.
+He thought over many things of his past life, as men under such
+circumstances are apt to do.  Happy are those who have not to reflect on
+crimes committed, injuries done to others too late to remedy! and still
+more fearful must be the thoughts of those who are not trusting to the
+perfect and complete sacrifice offered on Calvary--whose sins have not
+been washed away in the blood of the Lamb.  The old man knew in whom he
+trusted, and no bitterness entered his thoughts.  The hours passed on;
+stars became obscured; clouds were seen chasing each other across the
+dark sky, slowly at first, then more and more rapidly; the raft began to
+rock, scarcely perceptibly, then gently, then with more and more
+movement, but the boys slept on; accustomed to spend their time on the
+heaving wave, they did not feel the motion.  At length a grey cold light
+began gradually to steal over the foam-covered ocean.  The boys still
+slept on.  The old man alone was awake on the raft.  He lifted himself
+up, and bent forward as if in prayer.  Thus he remained for some time.
+At length David, less accustomed to the sea than Harry, awoke from the
+motion of the raft.  The exclamation to which he gave utterance aroused
+his companion; David quickly started to his feet, and gazed anxiously
+around the horizon.  The two frigates had disappeared.  No sail was in
+sight; nothing was to be seen but the heavy leaden-coloured waves, while
+the clouds seemed to come closely down on all sides.  The raft drove
+quickly on before the storm.
+
+"In what direction are we going?" asked David.
+
+"To the south-west, I have an idea," answered Harry; "but I should not
+mind that, if I thought we were likely to fall in with the two
+frigates."
+
+"Trust in God, my lads," said old Jefferies.
+
+He spoke truly; for already the raft gave signs of breaking up, from the
+violence to which it had been exposed.  The old man and the two boys did
+all they could to secure it more strongly by such ropes as they still
+had to spare, but it was difficult and dangerous to move from their
+positions.  The seas followed rapidly, and more than once had almost
+broken over them.  Still, while their mast stood, and they could keep
+their sail set, they hoped to continue running before the sea.  They
+spoke but little to each other, and continued looking out on either
+side, in the hope of seeing some vessels which might afford them a
+refuge.  Still none appeared.  The old man continued steering the raft
+with great judgment and dexterity, but it was clear that the gale was
+increasing, and that in a very short time the frail structure on which
+they floated could not hold together amidst the fierce waves to which it
+would be exposed.  Still, serious as was their position, the boys did
+not forget that they had had nothing to eat since the previous night.
+Harry dived down into their provision-box, and produced some biscuits
+and a piece of tongue.  Their first care was to offer some to the old
+man.
+
+"No, thank you, good lads, I've no hunger," he answered.
+
+In spite of their pressing, he refused to take any of the food.
+
+"I can't say that I'm not hungry," cried Harry, "though I'm afraid we
+must go without our tea."
+
+David, who felt something like old Jefferies, when pressed, however, by
+Harry, gladly joined him in discussing such provisions as they could
+easily get at.  Both of them were much refreshed by the nourishment, and
+in spite of the foreboding looks of the old man could not help holding
+sanguine hopes of escaping from their perilous position.  Still they
+were hoping against hope, for in spite of the additional lashings they
+had cast round their raft, first one piece of plank and then another was
+torn off.
+
+"Hold on tight!" cried Harry, as he gazed astern, "here comes a
+tremendous sea, and I don't know how we shall keep before it."
+
+As he spoke a high foaming wave came roaring up.  Already the raft was
+mounting a wave in front, or the consequences would have been more
+disastrous.  The upper part of the sea broke completely over the raft,
+but it still floated on.  Those on it looked anxiously round to see if
+any of their number were missing.  The old man was still at his post at
+the helm, and the two boys at their places.  It was evident, however,
+that a few more such seas would utterly destroy the raft.  As Harry
+again gazed astern, he saw to his dismay many similar seas preparing to
+follow; still he would not say this, even to David, and tried in his own
+hearty way to keep up his companions' spirits.  An hour or so thus
+passed away, when the raft gave stronger signs than ever of not having
+power to hold together.
+
+"How fearful it would be if we were separated!" said David, who clearly
+comprehended what was likely to happen.  Just then another tremendous
+sea came rolling up, and washed over the raft.  The boys clung on for
+their lives, but when the raft once more rose to the surface, the mast
+was gone.
+
+"No hope, I fear," said David.
+
+"Yes, there is!" cried Harry; "I see a vessel bearing down directly for
+us."
+
+The boys eagerly turned their eyes towards the stranger.  It seemed
+doubtful, however, whether the raft would hold together till her
+arrival, or whether they could avoid being washed off the raft by the
+sea, which kept continually rolling over them.  On she rapidly came.
+
+"I don't much like her appearance," said the old man; "she doesn't look
+much better than the craft which we before refused to go on board."
+
+"We have no choice at all," said Harry.  "She looks like a Frenchman;
+but even the Monsieurs, considering our circumstances, would not treat
+us otherwise than with kindness," said David.
+
+The boys waved and shouted with all their might.  It seemed doubtful
+whether or not they were observed; still the stranger, a large topsail
+schooner, was standing directly for them.  Presently they saw her
+shorten sail.
+
+"All right!" cried Harry; "we're seen."
+
+She rounded-to close to them, so close, indeed, that the two boys were
+able to grasp the ropes which were thrown to them, and were immediately
+hauled up on deck.
+
+"But old Jefferies, we mustn't desert him!" cried Harry, as he saw the
+old man still on the raft.  "Here! fasten this rope round my waist, and
+I'll go and haul him in."
+
+The crew of the stranger seemed to understand him, but at that moment a
+sea rolling up drove the raft completely under the schooner's bottom.  A
+few fragments again appeared, but the old man was not to be seen.
+
+"Oh, where is he? where is he?" cried David and Harry; "we must save the
+good old man."
+
+The people on board looked round on every side.  So deep was the grief
+of the boys for his loss, that they scarcely for the moment seemed to
+think of their own preservation, nor of the character of the vessel on
+board which they had got.  It was very clear that the old man had sunk
+for ever, as no signs of him appeared.  Once more the vessel was put
+before the wind, and flew onward on her course.
+
+Harry and David, on looking round, observed she was an armed vessel,
+carrying sixteen long guns, with swivels and other pieces.  From the
+language they heard spoken by the crew, they knew she was French; while,
+from the varied dresses of the men and officers, they suspected she was
+a privateer, and not a man-of-war.
+
+"I'm afraid we shall not much like our quarters here," said Harry.  "The
+best thing we can do is to put a good face on the matter, and go aft and
+thank the captain for saving our lives; he will see by my uniform that I
+am an officer, and treat us as gentlemen."
+
+Poor Harry's patch of white cloth, however, was not likely to be treated
+with much respect by a French privateer captain of those days.
+
+"I wonder which of these fellows is captain," said Harry, as they
+approached three or four rough-looking fellows, as they were walking the
+deck with the air of officers.  "Oh, I wonder whether they will
+understand English, for not a word of French can I speak."
+
+"Nor can I indeed," said David; "I didn't think of that."
+
+"We must make our intentions known, however," said Harry, "and I must
+muster up what I can say.  I know they always begin by saying `Monsieur'
+if they want to be polite, so I'll say `Monsieur Captain, Monsieur
+Captain,'" looking round as he spoke, "we have to thank you for taking
+us aboard your vessel, and should be still further obliged if you could
+give us a change of clothes while ours are drying."
+
+The Frenchmen looked at the boys with an air of indifference.
+
+"Monsieur Captain," again began Harry, "I say we want to thank you for
+pulling us out of the water."
+
+"Perhaps the captain is not among these men," suggested David.
+
+"I want to see the captain," said Harry, bowing as before.
+
+At length a small wizen-faced man appeared from below.  His countenance
+wore anything but a pleasant aspect.  By his dress, and the respect with
+which the others seemed to treat him, the boys had little doubt that he
+was the person of whom they were in search.  They accordingly approached
+him.
+
+"Are you the captain?" said Harry, bowing as before, for he did not
+forget his politeness, in spite of his wet clothes.
+
+"Yes, I am," said the wizen-faced man.
+
+"Oh, you speak English; how glad we are!" answered Harry, "because we
+can thus thank you for saving our lives."
+
+"No great reason to thank me," said the man, in an unpleasant tone.
+
+"You speak English very well, sir," said Harry, wishing to soothe him.
+
+"I have had plenty of time to learn it," said the captain.
+
+"Where was that, sir?" asked Harry.
+
+"In an English prison," answered the Frenchman, with a grin, turning on
+his heel; "and I've no great cause to love those who kept me there, or
+their countrymen."
+
+"I'm afraid we've gained very little by the expression of our
+gratitude," said David; "what are we to do?"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHT.
+
+THE GOOD-NATURED SEAMEN--PIERRE LAMONT--DAVID'S EMPLOYMENT--THE
+REPUBLICAN OFFICER.
+
+No one seemed disposed to pay the slightest attention to the two boys.
+The officers glanced at them superciliously.  The captain, after taking
+a few turns on deck, scowled on them as he passed on his way below.
+They were left standing on the deck of the schooner, which went flying
+on before the still increasing gale.  They were wet and cold, and
+grieving for the loss of their old friend, as well as very anxious about
+the sorrow their absence would cause their relatives at home.
+
+"I suppose the Frenchmen won't let us starve altogether," said David.
+"The officers indeed don't seem inclined to treat us well, but perhaps
+the men may be differently disposed.  I propose that, having done what
+we considered our duty, we go forward and throw ourselves upon their
+kindness.  Still, as I'm a quarter-deck officer, we ought to be treated
+with respect by the officers.  I'm sure, if we had picked up two French
+midshipmen on board our frigate, we should have made regular pets of
+them, and given them no cause to complain."
+
+"But remember this is not a frigate," observed David; "I think it will
+be wiser to put our dignity in our pockets, and make the best of things
+as they are."
+
+Still Harry held out for some little time; but at length the surly looks
+of the officers, not to mention his hunger, made him yield to David's
+suggestions, and they quietly worked their way forward.  As soon as the
+backs of the officers were turned the men came round them, and by the
+expression of their countenances showed that they at least bore them no
+ill-will.  One or two, by signs, invited them below, and they were very
+glad to escape from the cold autumn gale which was blowing through their
+wet clothes.  Although unable to communicate by words, the lads had no
+difficulty in making their wishes known to the Frenchmen by signs.  Some
+dry clothes were quickly produced from the bag of a young seaman.  As
+soon as Harry and David had dressed themselves in these, some provisions
+and a bottle of wine were brought to them, the Frenchmen standing round
+looking on with great satisfaction while they discussed them.
+
+"_Buvez, me amis_," said a stout good-natured looking seaman, pouring
+out a glass of claret.  The boys guessed by his signs clearly enough
+what he said, and thanked him by nodding in return.  They both felt
+considerably better for their repast.
+
+"If it wasn't for the loss of poor old Jefferies, I should not have
+minded it at all," said David; "but for him to lose his life, and for us
+to find ourselves little better than prisoners on board a Frenchman, is
+very trying."
+
+"As you remember, nearly his last words were, `Trust in God,'" remarked
+Harry; "so let us go on trusting; he was a good old man, and is gone to
+heaven I'm sure, so we ought not to mourn for him much.  It would have
+broken his heart to find himself on board this vessel."
+
+"I wonder in what direction we are going?" said David.
+
+"I will try and get a look at the compass when we go on deck again, but
+we mustn't let the Frenchmen think we care anything about the matter,"
+said Harry.
+
+"What a pity it is we can't talk French a little!  I wish we could thank
+these kind, good-natured fellows, because really I am very grateful for
+their kindness to us."
+
+"At all events, we can do it by signs," said Harry, jumping up and
+shaking the Frenchman by the hand who had given them the wine.
+
+"Much obliged, monsieur; much obliged for your good dinner; the sausages
+were excellent.  We don't often taste such claret at sea as you gave
+us."
+
+Of course, though the Frenchman did not understand a word Harry had
+said, yet he was evidently in the way of becoming a favourite among
+them.  When invited to return on deck they did not hesitate to do so,
+for by keeping forward they were not recognised among the French crew.
+In the evening they were again invited to join the mess of the men
+below, which, if not quite in accordance with English notions, was not
+quite the wretched fare on which Frenchmen are supposed to exist.
+Indeed, it must be owned that the provisions were far better cooked and
+made into more palatable messes than they would have been on board an
+English vessel of the same character.  At night they had a berth
+allotted to them in a standing bed-place forward, into which they were
+too glad to creep.  Having thanked the God of mercy who had thus
+preserved them, in a prayer which came from the very bottom of their
+hearts, and asked for a blessing on all those they had left at home,
+they lay down in their narrow berth, and stowed themselves away as well
+as space would allow.  They had reason to be thankful that they had
+escaped the perils to which they had been exposed for so many nights on
+the raft; and though their sleeping-place was very close and dark, it
+had the advantage of being dry.  They were very quickly fast asleep, in
+spite of all the rolling and pitching of the vessel, as she dashed
+forward across the stormy ocean.  There was no danger of their being
+pitched out.  In spite of the groaning of the bulkheads, the whistling
+of the wind through the rigging, the loud dash of the seas against the
+vessel, and the numerous other loud wild sounds which are heard during a
+gale at sea, the boys slept on till a gleam of daylight found its way
+down to their narrow berth.
+
+"_Mangez, mangez, mes amis_!" said a voice, which was recognised as that
+of their kind friend of the previous evening.  He had come, it appeared,
+to summon them to breakfast, for the crew were employed below in
+discussing that meal.  Once on their feet, the boys found themselves
+perfectly ready to join their French friends, and to do ample justice to
+the food placed before them.
+
+"If it were not for the dignity of the thing we should not be so badly
+off, after all," said Harry; "but really I cannot quite get over the
+skipper not treating us as officers, as he should have done."
+
+The Frenchmen greeted them with kind smiles, and soon again reconciled
+them to their wretched fate.
+
+The gale now increased to a regular hurricane.  The schooner ran before
+it under a close-reefed fore-topsail, but even then the seas followed so
+rapidly that there appeared great probability of their breaking on
+board.  Both officers and men either remained below, or, when necessity
+compelled them to be on deck, kept close to the bulwarks, that they
+might have something to catch hold of should an accident occur.  Under
+these circumstances no work was expected to be done; the boys were
+therefore allowed to do just as they pleased.  They wisely kept forward
+among their friends the seamen.  They had observed a boy about their own
+age eyeing them occasionally as he passed sometimes with a dish from the
+cook's caboose, or with various messages with which he seemed to be
+generally employed; yet he had not hitherto spoken to them.
+
+"I like his looks," said David; "I can't help fancying that he wants to
+be friendly.  Next time he passes us I will say something to him; or
+see, I've got a knife in my pocket; I'll present it to him, it will show
+our good-will."
+
+"That will be very much like purchasing kindness," answered Harry.
+
+In a few minutes after this the boy again came near.
+
+"Here, garcon," said David, pulling out his knife as he spoke, "take
+this, you may find it very useful."
+
+"Merci," said the boy, "thank you--much obliged."
+
+"What! do you speak English?" asked David.
+
+"Very little, but I know what you say."
+
+"Oh, we're so glad of that," exclaimed the two boys in the same breath.
+
+"What is your name?" asked David.
+
+"Pierre Lamont," answered the French boy.
+
+"We shall be friends," said David.  "You don't hate the English, I hope,
+like the captain?"
+
+"Oh no, no," answered Pierre, "I love the English; my poor mother was
+English, but she is dead, and so is my father, but he was French."
+
+"Then have you no one to look after you?" exclaimed David, in a tone of
+commiseration.
+
+"No, I am all alone in the world, no one to care for me," said Pierre.
+
+"Are you happy here on board this ship?" asked Harry.
+
+"Oh no, no.  Sometimes I am pretty well off; but often our cruel men
+order me about, and beat me with the rope's-end if I do not do quickly
+what they command."
+
+"You see, Harry," said David, "there's one on board this ship worse off
+than we are.  We have some dear friends on shore, and though they don't
+know what has become of us, we hope that they are are safe, and that we
+shall get back to them some day."
+
+"Do you know where we're going, Pierre?" asked Harry.  "I wanted to look
+at the compass; but I'm afraid of going aft, lest I should meet the
+captain."
+
+"You are right to keep away from him," answered Pierre.  "If he knew
+even that I spoke English he would treat me worse than he does.  But you
+ask where are we going.  I believe that we're bound out to the West
+Indies to take as many English merchant-vessels as we can find."
+
+"I thought we were going in that direction," answered David.
+
+"But, Pierre, do you think if any of the English vessels are defended,
+that the captain will make us fight against our own countrymen?"
+
+"Oh, you may depend on that," said Pierre.  "That is, you will be
+employed in bringing up powder from below."
+
+"What! shall we be turned into powder-monkeys?" exclaimed Harry, in a
+tone of indignation.  "That will be too bad."
+
+"Is that what you call the boys who bring up the powder?"
+
+"Yes, but only the smallest among the ship's crew are employed in that
+work, and they should not treat officers in that way, even though we are
+their enemies," exclaimed Harry, indignantly.
+
+"That is the very reason the captain will take delight in giving you
+such employment," said Pierre.  "No one likes him on board.  Even the
+officers fear him; but he is said to be a very good seaman and a daring
+character, so brave that he cares for nothing."
+
+From this account of the captain the boys saw that they were not far
+wrong in the opinion they had formed of him from his countenance and his
+manner towards them.  They resolved, therefore, to keep out of his way,
+and to avoid irritating him if they could.  While the gale continued he
+had quite enough to do to look after the vessel without troubling
+himself about them.  Indeed, as far as they could judge, he had
+forgotten that they were on board.  Although the place below where they
+sat with the men was close and dark in consequence of being battened
+down, they spent much of their time there.  Many of the men were
+employed in various works.  Several were making models of vessels in a
+way few English seamen could have done.  David proposed doing something
+of the sort, to show the Frenchmen that he did not wish to be idle, and
+that he felt himself at home among them.  He asked Pierre to get him
+some corks, and to set to work to make a model of a village church.
+This, with the aid of some pins, he rapidly accomplished with a file
+which he borrowed from one of the men, and he drew down the warm
+commendations of his companions, who were especially well disposed to
+appreciate such efforts.  He accordingly presented it to his stout
+friend, Jacques Rossillion, the good-natured seaman who had from the
+first taken an interest in him.
+
+Thus several days passed away till the gale abated, the sea went down,
+and sail was once more made on the schooner.  Harry had been perhaps
+unwisely anxious to put on his own uniform again, which was now
+thoroughly dry and fit to wear.  Pierre advised him not to appear before
+the captain in it.  "Still it's my proper dress," answered Harry, who,
+like many midshipmen, was very tenacious on that subject.  The gale,
+which had been in their favour, had carried them a long way towards
+their destination, as they judged by the warmth of the atmosphere and
+the tropical appearance of the sea.  The officers as usual paced the
+quarter-deck, and the men congregated together forward.  A monkey, which
+had hitherto stowed himself away somewhere out of sight, was among the
+occupants of the deck.  To an English crew a monkey is a great
+acquisition, but a French ship's company can scarcely get on without
+one.  When they are inclined to play pranks he is always at their
+service, and woe betide the unhappy small boy of a ship's company on
+whose muster-roll a monkey is not to be found! as he has to endure what
+the four-handed animal would otherwise have to go through.
+
+On looking over the side Harry observed a black fin gliding along at the
+same rate as the schooner.  "Look there, David; did you ever see a
+regular shark before?" he said.  "If anybody was to fall overboard that
+fellow would snap him in two in half a second.  The best swimmer would
+have but a poor chance unless he was well prepared.  I have heard of a
+sailor attacking a shark with a knife in his hand, and cutting him up;
+but a man only with iron nerves and great presence of mind and a good
+swimmer could ever make the attempt."  While they were speaking the
+captain appeared on deck.  "Here, you boys, come aft," he shouted.
+"What, do you think you are to pass away your time in idleness, and get
+fed and grow fat?  You are very much mistaken if you think any such
+thing.  Take each of you a tar-bucket, and go and black down the rigging
+from the fore-topmast head."  Poor Harry looked at his uniform; it had
+endured the wetting, but it would be spoiled in a few minutes by the
+operation which he was ordered to perform.  He saw that it would not do
+to disobey the captain's orders.  If they had time to find Pierre they
+might borrow some frocks and canvas trousers.
+
+"I say what I mean," shouted the captain; "and off with you at once--one
+taking the starboard, and one the larboard rigging.  What, you don't
+like to spoil your clothes, I see.  I was not allowed any clothes to
+spoil when I was in an English prison."
+
+"Surely you will let us borrow some frocks, sir," answered David.
+"Though we are gentlemen, and unaccustomed to such work, we are willing
+to obey you, only we don't want to spoil our clothes."
+
+"Aloft, I say, or overboard you go.  There's a fellow alongside ready to
+breakfast off you, if you are anxious to feed him."  The little
+Frenchman looked so fierce that the boys really believed he was in
+earnest.
+
+"It can't be helped," said David.  "You must tell me what to do, for I
+never blacked down rigging even on board the yacht."
+
+"Just secure the bucket as you descend, and take care not to let the tar
+drop from the brush on deck.  It's not the difficulty of the thing, but
+it is very derogatory."
+
+Seeing that there was no use in further expostulation, the boys took
+each of them a bucket as they were ordered, and ascended, one on one
+side, and one on the other, of the fore-rigging, and having reached the
+masthead Harry secured his bucket, and showed David how to secure his.
+The operation, besides being a very dirty one, was tedious, as each rope
+had to be gone carefully round with the tar.  Often they made melancholy
+faces at each other as they gradually descended, but neither the captain
+nor officers showed the slightest commiseration, only watching
+apparently to see that the work was effectually performed.  While the
+captain remained on deck the crew took no notice of them.  This was,
+however, evidently done in kindness.  At length the work was over, and,
+seeing the captain on deck, they thought the best way was to go aft and
+report what they had done.  "Very well," said the captain; "tomorrow you
+will black down the main-rigging; in the meantime I want to see a polish
+put upon those brass stanchions, and the swivel guns are not so bright
+as they should be.  I shall have work for you in my cabin, too, by and
+by.  You are young English gentlemen, I understand.  You may consider it
+a privilege to have to serve a poor republican seaman, who has worked
+his way up from before the mast."
+
+"We will do our best to obey you, sir," answered David, who wisely
+wished to conciliate the man, in spite of his surly manners.  He
+remembered that "a soft answer turneth away wrath."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINE.
+
+THE PRISONERS HAVE TO WORK--THE CHASE--THE MERCHANT SHIP IS TAKEN--THE
+BOYS FIND THEIR FRIEND CAPTAIN RYMER AND MARY--THE HURRICANE.
+
+Next morning, as soon as the boys appeared on deck, the captain again
+called them aft.
+
+"Aloft with you, lads, and black down the main-rigging," he exclaimed as
+they approached him, looking more humble even than they felt.  Knowing,
+however, that there was no use in refusing to do what they were ordered,
+Harry and David took up the buckets to which the captain pointed, and
+ascended as before.
+
+"We must look out not to drop any tar on deck," said Harry, "he will
+make it an excuse to give us a rope's-ending if we do; I'm sure he means
+mischief."
+
+The boys soon gained the masthead, and began their very disagreeable
+task.  The sun was extremely hot; the ship rolled slowly from side to
+side as she glided on before the wind.  Poor David felt very sick and
+wretched; more than once he thought he must give in, but Harry cheered
+him by exclaiming--
+
+"Let us show that we are Englishmen, and at all events that we are not
+to be daunted by any work these Frenchmen can give us."
+
+Thus encouraged, David, who really had as much spirit as Harry,
+determined to persevere.  The work, however, progressed more slowly than
+on the previous day.  Several times the captain came on deck and watched
+them; they continued their work as it they did not observe him.  By the
+time it was completed, as may be supposed, their clothing was entirely
+spoiled.  As they stepped on deck he grinned at them maliciously.
+
+"Ah! now you look what you must in future expect to be," he remarked;
+"go forward and stow away those buckets, and then come aft to me."
+
+"I wonder what he is going to make us do next?" said Harry, as they
+handed the buckets over to the boatswain.  Poor David, overcome with the
+heat, scarcely answered.  A cup of water which he had obtained from a
+cask on deck somewhat revived him.
+
+"Well, we must go aft, and face it out as best we can," he answered;
+"come along, I'm ready."
+
+The captain ordered them into his cabin.
+
+"Now, lads, I want that furniture cleaned; the brass has not been
+burnished for some time."  He put some leather into their hands.  The
+difficulty of the work was not so great, but it was evidently given to
+insult them on account of its menial character.  Harry especially felt
+this.  Still they had no resource but to obey, and scrubbed away with
+might and main.  At last the captain came below.
+
+"Now, you young English midshipman, I've some special work for you to
+do.  See that locker; there are several pairs of boots and shoes--you'll
+find a blacking-bottle and brushes.  I want them cleaned."  Harry's
+proud spirit rose within him.  Should he defy the tyrannical captain,
+and declare that he would die sooner than so employ himself?  The
+captain seemed to divine his thoughts.
+
+"As you please, youngster," he observed; "no one disobeys me on board
+this vessel."
+
+Harry remembered the shark, and the captain's threat on the previous
+day.
+
+"Oh!  I will help you," said David, looking at him.
+
+"No, it is his work," said the captain.
+
+Poor Harry saw there was no use in offering any resistance, and taking
+out the brushes began to clean the shoes.  It was a work which a
+midshipman in those days often had to perform for himself; but then it
+was very different doing it for another, and that other a Frenchman.  At
+length, however, the boys were dismissed, having performed all the tasks
+given to them.  They hurried forward and dived below.  The first person
+they met was Pierre, who looked with commiseration on their tarred
+dresses.
+
+"I came on board with a nice clean suit, and had to spoil it just as you
+have had to spoil yours," he observed; "and now he abuses me when I go
+into his cabin, for not looking clean."
+
+After this the boys were regularly sent aft to help wash down decks, and
+to keep the stanchions and other parts about the ship bright.  This gave
+them abundant occupation.  However, when they could manage to get below,
+they were treated even more kindly than before by the crew.
+
+They had been for some weeks cruising up and down without even sighting
+a sail, when one morning, on Harry and David coming on deck, they found
+the captain and officers in a considerable state of excitement.  The
+captain himself went aloft with his glass, and on his return ordered the
+ship's course to be altered, and all sail to be set.
+
+"We are in chase of some vessel or other," observed Harry; "depend upon
+it the Frenchmen expect to make a prize of her."
+
+All hands were called on deck.  Now one sail and now another was
+added,--some rigged out so as just to skim the surface of the water,
+while with buckets and scoops the sails were wetted as high as they
+could be reached.  Harry and David could see in the far distance a large
+ship, which from her narrow yards and the cut of her sails Harry said he
+thought was really a merchantman, which of course the Frenchman took her
+to be.
+
+"But suppose she is not," said David.
+
+"Then they will find out that they have caught a Tartar, and we shall
+get out of the power of this Monsieur Sourcrout," answered Harry;
+"however, we mustn't raise our hopes too high."
+
+"The ship ahead has shown English colours," the boys heard from some of
+the crew, for they could not get a glass to look through.  She, it
+seemed, did not like the appearance of the stranger, for she now set all
+sail and went off also directly before the wind.  A stern chase is a
+long chase, but if the chaser is a faster vessel than the chased, she
+will come up with her at last.  As the day drew on it was very evident
+that the schooner had gained very considerably on the chase.  She was
+seen to be an old-fashioned merchant vessel, a regular West India
+trader, probably, which would afford a rich prize to the captors.
+
+The excitement of the captain and officers was extreme.  Already they
+anticipated the rich booty which would soon be theirs.
+
+"Oh! do you think those people on board that vessel will give in without
+fighting?" asked David.
+
+"I think very likely not," said Harry; "we shall soon know; in less than
+an hour we shall be alongside."
+
+"What had we better do?" asked David.
+
+"Stay on deck and see what takes place," said Harry.
+
+"What, and run the chance of being shot?" said David; "I don't think
+that would be wise."
+
+"Well, let us wait and see till the time comes," said Harry, who was
+evidently very unwilling to go below while any fighting was taking
+place.
+
+In the meantime the Frenchmen were very active in preparing the ship for
+action.  Arm-chests were thrown open, and arms were handed to each of
+the crew.  The cutlasses were secured to their waists, and the pistols
+they stuck in their belts.  The guns were cast loose and loaded, and the
+French ensign run up at the peak.  The magazine was opened, and Harry
+and David were called aft by the captain, and told to go below.
+
+"I knew that's what we should have to do," said Harry.
+
+"Stand by, and hand up the powder as it is wanted," said the captain, in
+an authoritative tone, which there was no disobeying.  Pierre and the
+other boys were employed in the same way.
+
+"We shall have to carry the powder on deck in these tubs, and sit on it
+till it is wanted," said Harry.
+
+"And run as great a risk of being shot as any of the crew?" asked David.
+
+"There's no help for it," said Harry.  "If we refuse, the French skipper
+is just as likely to shoot us through the head as not.  He's been
+waiting for this opportunity to have his revenge on us."
+
+As soon as the guns were loaded, a fresh supply of powder was called
+for, and Harry and the other boys were ordered to carry it up on deck.
+There they sat in a row on the tubs which contained the bags of powder,
+looking anything but contented with their lot.  The schooner now rapidly
+came up with the merchant vessel,--for such there seemed no doubt was
+the character of the chase.  Whether or not she would fight seemed a
+question.  As they drew nearer, a considerable number of men were seen
+on deck, and she gave no signs of yielding.  As soon as the Frenchman's
+bow-chaser could be brought to bear, a shot was fired, but no reply was
+given.  Another and another followed in rapid succession.  Neither of
+the shots took effect.  At length the schooner got near enough to fire a
+whole broadside.  As she was about to do so, the ship hauled up her
+courses, and, standing across the Frenchman's bows, gave her a raking
+broadside which struck down several of her crew, and caused some little
+damage to her masts and spars.  Harry and David looked anxiously towards
+each other.  Neither of them was hurt, nor was Pierre, in whom they took
+a warm interest.  This opposition, however, seemed to excite the captain
+to the utmost pitch of fury.  He stamped and swore, and ordered a
+broadside to be immediately poured into the English ship.  The two
+vessels now ran on alongside each other.  It was clear if the English
+vessel was to be taken, she would not be captured without a severe
+struggle.  The Frenchman's guns were heavier and more numerous than
+hers, and the crew were better trained to their use.  This soon began to
+tell.  Several of her spars were soon shot away, and from the faintness
+of her fire it seemed too probable that many of her crew had been killed
+or wounded.  As long as the Frenchman's spars remained standing, to
+escape was hopeless, and her guns were therefore directed rather to
+knock away the Frenchman's masts than to kill the crew.  In this,
+however, she was not successful, and several of her own spars were shot
+away instead.  At length the French captain, delivering another
+broadside, ranged up alongside with the intention of boarding.  An
+attempt was made to avoid this, and boarding nettings were seen triced
+up above the bulwarks of the English ship.  Again the Frenchman ran
+alongside.
+
+"They shall not foil us a second time," exclaimed the French captain;
+"no quarter if they do not yield."
+
+Harry and David trembled for the fate of their unfortunate countrymen on
+board the merchantman.  Just then the English ensign was seen to descend
+from the peak.  Those on board the English vessel thought that further
+resistance was hopeless.  The Frenchmen swarmed up the sides, and were
+quickly in possession of the English ship.
+
+"We'll follow, and see what takes place," said Harry; "we may perhaps
+help some of the poor people."
+
+As there was no one to interfere with them, they were soon on the
+merchantman's deck.  Some five or six of the crew lay dead, while three
+or four others, badly wounded, were being conveyed below.  The French
+captain, by his gestures, seemed disappointed at not having his expected
+revenge, and he was abusing the English captain for having attempted to
+oppose him.  A man stood by, receiving the swords of the captain and
+several other persons, who seemed to be gentlemen.  Harry and David
+observed one whose face had been turned away from them at first.
+
+"Harry," exclaimed David, "I'm sure that's Captain Rymer.  If Mary is on
+board, how dreadful for her!"
+
+"It's very like him," said Harry; "I'm afraid it must be him.  But how
+could he have come on board the ship?  We shall soon know, at all
+events--I will try and speak to him."
+
+As may be supposed, even their dearest friends would not have known the
+two lads in their tarry clothes, and their faces begrimed with powder.
+As soon as the French captain and his followers went below to examine
+the cargo of the ship, Harry and David stole up to the gentleman whom
+they supposed to be Captain Rymer.  He was indeed their friend.
+
+"What, lads!" he exclaimed, looking at them, "are you really alive?  I
+am thankful to find you so, even in this plight."
+
+Harry rapidly explained how they came to be on board the French vessel.
+
+"And is Mary with you?" asked Harry, eagerly.
+
+"Yes, and there are several other ladies in the cabin below.  They have
+shut themselves in, and I trust will receive no annoyance from the
+Frenchmen."
+
+"I don't think we should be seen talking with you," said Harry, "because
+we may hope to be of some assistance, although we don't see clearly how
+that is to be just yet."
+
+The Frenchmen seemed highly elated at finding they had captured an
+unusually rich prize, and were in a very good humour, in spite of the
+loss of a few of their number.  The dead were soon thrown overboard, and
+the wounded placed in the doctor's hands out of sight, the decks washed
+down, and most of the traces of the combat done away with.  A picked
+crew of the Frenchmen was sent on board the English merchantman, which
+it seemed the intention of the captain to carry into the nearest port in
+the West Indies belonging to France.  Harry and David could not bear the
+thoughts of being separated from Captain Rymer, and resolved to stow
+themselves away on board the English vessel, hoping they might not be
+missed.  Among the prize crew were, to their great satisfaction, their
+good-natured friends Jacques Rossillion and Pierre Lamont.  The first
+lieutenant came to take the command.  The Frenchmen more than doubled
+the remainder of the English crew, who, however, were expected to assist
+in working the ship.  Scarcely had these arrangements been made when a
+strong breeze sprang up.  The boats were hoisted in, and the two vessels
+separated.  The wind increased very rapidly, and so heavy a sea got up
+that it would have been dangerous for a boat to pass from one vessel to
+the other.  Before long, however, the schooner ranged up near the ship.
+
+"You have got those two English boys on board; give them the
+rope's-end," shouted the French captain, who, apparently, had only just
+then discovered that Harry and David had escaped him.
+
+The French lieutenant replied that he would see to it, and again the
+vessels separated.  He, however, had never looked at them in the same
+surly way the other officers had done, and as they took good care to
+keep out of his sight, he seemed to forget the orders he had received.
+The wind went on increasing till it seemed likely to become a regular
+hurricane.  The management of the ship completely occupied the French
+crew, so that they had but little time to look after their prisoners.
+The English captain and his officers were ordered to remain as prisoners
+in one of the cabins with a sentinel placed over them, but the rest of
+the crew were allowed to go about at liberty.
+
+"Don't you think it would be possible to get back the ship?" said Harry
+to David.  "Shall I propose to make the attempt to Captain Rymer?"
+
+"If it was not for Mary and the other ladies," said David, "he might
+consent; but the risk to them would be too fearful were we to fail."
+
+Hitherto they had not had the opportunity of seeing Mary.  Finding,
+however, that the Frenchmen as well as the English crew were engaged in
+making the ship snug, they stole aft and found their way to the cabin
+door.
+
+"May we come in?" said Harry.
+
+"Yes, yes," answered a voice, which they thought was Mary's.
+
+When, however, they opened the door and presented themselves, for a
+minute Mary could scarcely recognise them, so changed were they since
+the day they had parted from her after the picnic--Harry in his bright
+new uniform, and David in his trim yachtsman's attire.  Now their hair
+was long, their cheeks were sunken, at least so far as could be seen
+through the powder which begrimed them, and their dresses were covered
+from head to foot with tar; still, the moment they spoke, she sprang
+forward and took them warmly by the hands.
+
+"Oh, I am so thankful that you have not been lost, as we thought you
+were," she exclaimed, and the tears came into her eyes; "this is a very
+sad way of meeting, but still I hope God will protect us all, and I am
+thankful to see you both."
+
+Most of the ladies, who were all passengers, were eager to hear of the
+boys' adventures.  These they briefly gave.  Some, however, were too
+frightened by the sound of the hurricane, and the tossing and rolling of
+the ship, to listen to them.
+
+"Do you think there is any danger?" at last asked Mary of Harry.
+
+"I hope not," said Harry, "but Captain Rymer knows more about it than I
+do."
+
+Captain Rymer, who at this moment entered the cabin, looked somewhat
+anxious, though he endeavoured to speak in a cheerful voice, and began
+to express his satisfaction at the escape of his young friends from the
+numerous dangers to which they had been exposed.  Night was now coming
+on, and it was evident that the ship was in the midst of a regular West
+Indian hurricane.  The French officer was evidently a good seaman, and
+did all that could be done under the circumstances for the safety of the
+ship.  The topgallant-masts were struck, and every sail was furled
+except a closely reefed fore-topsail, with which the ship ran before the
+gale.  Night had now come on; the wind, as is generally the case during
+a hurricane, shifted so much that it was difficult to ascertain in what
+direction she was driving.  Captain Rymer several times went on deck,
+but had a not very satisfactory report to give on his return.
+
+"As long as the ship does not spring a leak we have nothing to fear,
+however," he observed.
+
+Still the ship rolled and pitched so much that it seemed scarcely
+possible that a structure of wood and iron could hold together.  The
+poor ladies had to sit on the deck of the cabin and hold on by the legs
+of the table, while the lamp swung backwards and forwards in a way that
+threatened every instant to cause its fracture.  Harry and David, though
+they had seen enough of storms, agreed to go up on deck and see what was
+taking place.  One glance satisfied them.  The mountain seas, covered
+with white foam, were rolling up on either side of the ship, and
+threatened every instant to come down upon her deck.  They gladly
+descended again.
+
+"I don't at all like the look of things, I confess," said David.  "As
+long, however, as Captain Rymer is satisfied that all is right, so
+should we be."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TEN.
+
+ON A REEF--FATE OF THE FRENCH CREW--THE ISLAND--THE SHIPWRECKED PEOPLE--
+THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT L'HIRONDELLE.
+
+It is scarcely necessary to relate that Captain Rymer was on his way, on
+board the _Cerberus_, West Indian merchantman, to take the command to
+which he had been appointed when he was captured by the privateer.  He
+had been too much accustomed to the ups and downs of a sailor's life to
+be disheartened at what had occurred, though it was a great trial it
+must be owned.  He had cause also to be grateful that he and his
+companions had not received that ill-usage to which passengers were too
+often subjected when their vessel was taken by a privateer.  It might
+have been very different had the French captain himself remained on
+board.  He had now, however, great cause for apprehension, in
+consequence of the increasing violence of the hurricane.  The
+_Cerberus_, he knew, was a stout, strong-built ship, but many a stout
+ship had gone down in a West Indian hurricane; not long before, several
+line-of-battle ships with all their gallant crews had been lost.  Things
+on deck looked as bad as they well could do.  He was a Christian man,
+and put his trust in One who is all-able to save.  Thus he could impart
+hope and confidence to his companions.  Hitherto the ship had not sprung
+a leak, and, as far as he could judge, they were at some distance from
+any land.  The French had, however, become alarmed.  Some, like true
+men, stayed at their posts on deck, but the greater number had gone
+below and stowed themselves away in the berths.  A few had endeavoured
+to break open the spirit-room, but the French officers, suspecting their
+intentions, had been in time to prevent them, and threatened to shoot
+the first man, whether Frenchman or Englishman, who would again make the
+attempt.  Order was thus kept on board.  No human power was longer of
+any avail in guiding the ship.  The hatches were battened down in time
+to prevent the seas, which now began to break on board, from washing
+below.  On she drove before the hurricane.  The caboose and spars were
+first washed away; then two of the quarter-boats shared the same fate.
+The seas were making a clean sweep over the decks; still on she drove.
+Now part of the bulwarks were knocked to pieces, and it seemed that in a
+short time everything on deck would follow; still the masts stood and
+the ship floated.  There was hope, but it grew fainter and fainter; even
+the stoutest hearts had cause to fear.  Several fearful hours followed.
+The hurricane howled more loudly and fiercely around the ship, and the
+raging seas seemed to have gained her as their prey.
+
+"Do you really think she will live through it?" asked David of Harry.
+
+"Yes, I do think so; we've gone through so many dangers, that I can't
+fancy that we're to be lost at last," was Harry's reply.
+
+Another and another hour passed away.  "Surely the hurricane must come
+to an end at last," said David.  "Did you ever know one last so long,
+Captain Rymer?" he inquired.
+
+"They seldom last more than twelve or fifteen hours, and this gives me
+hope that we shall escape," answered their friend.  "I see a gleam of
+daylight coming through a scuttle.  Depend upon it, before long the wind
+will begin to fall."
+
+While they were speaking loud cries arose from those on deck.  "Breakers
+ahead!" shouted the English crew.  Directly afterwards there was a
+fearful crash.
+
+"We're cast upon a reef!" exclaimed Harry; "perhaps, after all, our last
+day is come."
+
+Captain Rymer set an example of coolness to his companions.  "Remain
+together," he said to Mary and the other ladies, "I will go on deck and
+ascertain the state of affairs, and return for you, if there is a
+prospect of your reaching the shore.  We are in God's hands, and though
+we may be unable to help ourselves, let us feel that He will care for
+us."
+
+While he was thus speaking, the ship seemed to be lifted by the seas,
+and then down she came again with another crash.  Just as Captain Rymer
+reached the deck, followed by David and Harry, the masts were seen to go
+by the board; the ship had struck upon a reef, over which the sea was
+driving her, and inside of it the waters seemed comparatively calm.
+
+"Why, men," shouted Captain Rymer to the crew, "I believe if we remain
+by the ship we shall all be able to gain the shore in safety."  The
+Frenchmen, however, did not understand him, and were engaged in
+launching the remaining boats.  He felt sure that in the raging seas
+which surrounded the ship no boats would live.
+
+"Whatever happens, we will remain on board," he said to Harry and David.
+"The ship I know is strong, and will hold together till the storm is
+abated.  Those who attempt to embark now will, I fear, lose their
+lives."
+
+In vain he urged the Frenchmen to remain.  The English captain alone,
+with one of his officers, agreed that he was right.  The boats were
+lowered and the infatuated men leaped into them.  Pierre Lamont had
+courageously remained on deck during the hurricane, but he now seemed
+inclined to follow his countrymen into the boats.  Harry and David saw
+him, and shouted to him not to go.  Hearing them he turned back, but one
+of the Frenchmen seized him by the arms, and before he could disengage
+himself, had dragged him into the boat.  Scarcely, however, had the
+boats shoved off, crowded with human beings, than first one, then the
+other, was capsized, and all were thrown into the water.  In vain the
+shrieking wretches attempted to regain the ship; some clung to the
+boats; a few who could swim struggled for some time amid the foaming
+waves.  Captain Rymer had before this gone below, but Captain Williams
+and those who remained on deck, got ropes ready to throw to any who
+might be washed near the ship.  None were so fortunate, and one by one
+they were carried far away, and disappeared amid the foaming breakers.
+
+"Is there not one who can be saved?" exclaimed David, who had stood
+watching the scene with horror.
+
+"Yes, yes, I see one clinging to the wreck of our masts," answered
+Harry; "I must go and try to rescue him.  I do believe that it is
+Pierre!"
+
+"Oh, let me go then," said David; "I can swim better than you, you
+know."
+
+"This is a case for scrambling rather than for swimming," answered
+Harry; "I'll fasten a rope round my waist, and we'll have him quickly on
+board."
+
+Harry, before David could offer another objection, did as he proposed.
+It was an undertaking, however, of the greatest danger, and the utmost
+activity and vigilance could alone have saved him from being struck by
+the broken spars which were dashed here and there by the seas.
+
+At length Harry reached the object of his search.  Pierre looked up at
+him eagerly.  "Oh, save me, save me!  I cannot hold on longer," he
+exclaimed.
+
+Harry sprang forward and grasped the French boy by the collar just as
+his hands relaxed their hold.  He dragged him up on the mast.  To return
+with him was even more difficult than the first part of the undertaking.
+Undaunted, however, Harry persevered, and, though more than once almost
+losing his footing, succeeded at length in bringing young Pierre on
+board.  "Brave garcon!" exclaimed Jacques, as he helped him up; "oh, I
+would die for you!  I will be ever your friend."
+
+Except the lieutenant in command, and honest Jacques Rossillion, no
+Frenchman remained on board, and the ship was once more, therefore, in
+possession of the English.  Scarcely had this fearful catastrophe
+occurred than the weather gave evident signs of improving.  Captain
+Williams, the English commander, accompanied by Captain Rymer, went
+round the ship below and brought back a satisfactory report that she
+appeared to have suffered very little damage by the blows she had
+received.  The shore was, however, not particularly inviting; a few
+groups of cocoa-nut trees and other tropical plants were alone to be
+seen.  It was an island scarcely more than two miles in circumference,
+one of those spots known as keys in the West Indies; still, should the
+ship break up, it would afford them shelter, and they could not help
+longing to be able to reach the beach.  As the boats and all had been
+lost, this could not be done till a raft had been built.  The gentlemen
+immediately set about constructing one.  As the spars had all been
+washed away, it was necessary first to get those which floated alongside
+from the rigging.  There were planks also below; these were got up, with
+all the empty casks which could be collected.  By knocking away some of
+the bulwarks, and by bringing on deck a few of the seamen's chests, they
+soon had materials for constructing a raft large enough for carrying the
+whole party.  All hands worked with a will.  The French lieutenant was
+very active, and seemed in no way put out by having the tables so
+completely turned upon him.  He was probably grateful, as he ought to
+have been, for having escaped with his life.  By the time the raft was
+finished, the sea had so completely gone down that there was little
+difficulty in launching it.  The bulwarks having been already completely
+washed away, all that was necessary was to let it slip quietly
+overboard.  Its constructors gave a cheer as they saw it floating calmly
+alongside; they had still, however, to rig the mast and sail, as well as
+to fit some oars to guide it towards the shore.
+
+When this was done, the captains invited all the passengers up on deck.
+It was agreed that it would be safer to convey only half at a time.
+Harry and David begged that they might accompany Captain Rymer and Mary.
+Captain Rymer agreed to let Captain Williams conduct the first party,
+saying that he should be content to remain on board till the return of
+the raft.  Before the raft left the side, a supply of provisions were
+lowered down upon it; and, with the prayers of those who remained on
+board for its safe voyage, the raft shoved off from the side of the
+ship.  Its progress was slow, for there was very little wind, and there
+seemed to be a current sweeping round the island which took it out of
+its direct course.  At length, however, it reached the beach, and those
+on it leaped out and ran eagerly up on to the dry land.  The men had,
+however, to return for the provisions, which were landed in safety.
+Then Captain Williams, and two seamen who accompanied him, had to return
+to the ship; they were a considerable time, and it seemed doubtful
+indeed, in consequence of the current which had to be encountered,
+whether they would regain her.  They succeeded, however, at last.
+
+Captain Rymer, with those who had remained on board, had employed their
+time in getting up provisions, and their first care was to load her with
+as large a supply as she could safely carry; this done, the remainder of
+those on board now made for the shore, which by some exertion they
+safely reached.  The first care of the shipwrecked party on reaching the
+shore was to send out some of their number in search for water.  Captain
+Rymer had brought some from the wreck, but this was only sufficient to
+last for a short time, and their lives might depend upon their obtaining
+a supply.  Only those who have felt the want of water know how to
+appreciate its value.  Others, in the meantime, employed themselves in
+getting up a tent for the ladies; for which purpose they had brought
+some spare sails and ropes.  In a short time the party which had gone
+out in search of water returned with the report that none was to be
+found.  This rendered it important to economise their slender store, and
+to procure a future supply from the ship as soon as possible.
+
+All this time no one seemed to have thought of the French privateer.
+She had not been seen since the commencement of the hurricane, from
+which, if she had escaped, it was too probable she would come and look
+for her prize.  This was a source of anxiety to Captain Rymer, for,
+though of course anxious to escape from their present position, he had
+no wish at all to fall again into the hands of the French.
+
+The men of the party found ample occupation for the rest of the day, in
+putting up shelter for themselves, for hot as is the climate of the West
+Indies, it is dangerous to sleep exposed to the night dews.
+
+Pierre seemed anxious to make himself useful, and begged that he might
+be allowed to attend on the ladies.  Jacques offered to undertake the
+office of cook, the duties of which he was far better able to perform
+than any of the English.  The French lieutenant seemed the most
+cast-down of any of the party.  He sat by himself not speaking to any
+one, and with an air of discontent, put away the food which was brought
+to him.
+
+"The poor lieutenant mourns and seems very unhappy," said David to
+Pierre.
+
+"Yes," answered Pierre, "he is often thus morose when anything annoys
+him; the poor man has no religion."
+
+"Is he not a Roman Catholic?" asked David.
+
+"Oh, no; a large number of my countrymen threw off all religion at the
+Revolution, and many, like him, have not taken to any since.  He, I am
+afraid, does not believe in God, or in any future state, but that when
+he dies he will become just like a dog or a pig; so, you see, he has no
+hope, and nothing to keep him up."
+
+"But what are you, Pierre? are you not a Roman Catholic?" asked David.
+
+"Oh, no, I am a Protestant," answered Pierre; "there are a great many
+Protestants in France, and though some few at the Revolution became
+infidels, by far the greater number remained firm to the true faith."
+
+"I didn't know there were any Protestants in France," said Harry, who,
+like many boys at that time, fancied that the English were the only
+Protestant people in Europe.
+
+"Oh, yes, there are a great number who are known as Huguenots, and who
+fought bravely for the Protestant faith," said Pierre.  "My father was
+of a Huguenot family, and many of his ancestors lost their lives for the
+love they bore the Bible."
+
+"Ah! that was a noble cause to die for," remarked David.  "How sad to
+think that people should reject the truths it contains."
+
+This conversation took place as the boys were sitting together in front
+of the tent.  Darkness now came rapidly on, but from the look of the
+weather there seemed every prospect of their having the blessing of a
+quiet night.  The sea had gone completely down, and the moon shone forth
+over the calm waters, the light just falling upon the spot where the
+wreck lay, so that any object could be seen approaching it.  Captain
+Rymer and Captain Williams agreed, however to keep watch for the
+protection of their charges.  Three English seamen, with the mate,
+wisely remained by their captain.  There were, besides Captain Rymer,
+four gentlemen passengers, West Indian planters, going out to their
+property.  They were not men of much individual character, evidently
+more accustomed to look after their own creature comforts than to
+trouble them selves about their fellow-beings.  There was one subject in
+which they were all agreed, that the emancipation of the negroes would
+ruin them, and all persons concerned.  It was a doubtful matter whether
+negroes had souls, and that to attempt to educate them was a work of the
+greatest folly.  In this matter Captain Rymer did not agree with them,
+and the discussion of the subject afforded them abundant supply of
+conversation at all times.
+
+The night passed quietly away.  As soon as it was dawn, Captain Rymer
+urged Captain Williams to return at once to the wreck, and bring on
+shore a further supply of provisions and water.
+
+"We cannot tell what may occur," he observed.  "The hurricane season is
+not yet over, and should another hurricane come on, and the vessel go to
+pieces, we might be starved, and die for want of water."
+
+The wisdom of this advice was so evident, that the raft was immediately
+despatched, under the captain's charge, to bring off the cargo.  In a
+short time it returned, and a message was delivered from the captain,
+that he thought it would be wiser to build another raft, in order more
+rapidly to get the stores on shore.  This work occupied the men the
+whole of the day.  Jacques alone remained on shore to cook the
+provisions, with the help of Pierre, while David and Harry begged that
+they might be allowed to go off to the wreck, where they thought that
+they could make themselves useful.
+
+"I vote that we make a small raft for ourselves," said Harry; "and I
+think that we can paddle her backwards and forwards several times, while
+the big raft is only making one voyage."
+
+With the experience they had already attained, they soon carried their
+plan into execution, and in a short time conveyed a considerable
+quantity of the stores on shore.  During their last trip, however, Harry
+observed close alongside the raft a black fin, and a wicked pair of eyes
+glancing up at him.
+
+"There's a brute of a shark," he exclaimed; "he thinks he's going to get
+a meal off one of us, I suspect."
+
+Still they kept paddling on, and the shark did not attempt to come
+nearer them.  They were not sorry, however, when they reached the shore,
+and Captain Rymer told them that he considered they had done enough for
+the day.  It must be owned it was far pleasanter to sit near Mary, and
+listen to the account of all their friends at home.  She did not tell
+them how completely they had been given up, for she knew it would make
+Harry especially melancholy to think of the sorrow his supposed loss had
+caused his mother, nor did she tell him how very sorry she herself had
+been.  Indeed, she could say truly that many of their friends fully
+expected that they would turn up at last.
+
+"Doesn't this put you in mind of our picnic?" said Harry, looking up at
+her, "though to be sure we are somewhat changed since then," looking
+down on his tarred and dirty dress.  "I really think the next time I go
+on board the wreck I must try and find a new suit of clothes."
+
+"You do look rather disreputable," said Mary, laughing, "for an officer
+in His Majesty's service.  Here comes Jacques with the dinner.  Really
+Jacques must be a first-rate cook, and we ought to be thankful that he
+escaped."
+
+None of the party seemed inclined to be out of spirits, except the
+lieutenant, who sat as usual by himself, and refused to take the food
+Pierre offered him.  Had it even been otherwise, the good well-cooked
+dinner provided by Jacques might have put them in good humour, while
+there was no lack of wine, of which the West Indian planters had laid in
+a good store.  In the evening a further supply of provisions and water
+was obtained from the wreck.  The next day was wisely occupied in the
+same way, till a sufficient supply of food was landed to last for a
+couple of months or more.  More than once it was discussed whether it
+could be possible to get the wreck off, but it was agreed that without
+more strength than they possessed it would be impossible, though, as far
+as could be ascertained, she had suffered no material damage.  Some of
+the party thought they took a great deal of trouble for little purpose,
+and that it would be more easy to get the stores on shore as they were
+required.
+
+"They will see the wisdom of what we have done should a hurricane come
+on," said Captain Rymer, "and I am not at all sure, from the appearance
+of the weather, that we shall escape one."
+
+The next morning the heat was intense.  The sun rose surrounded by a
+mass of ruddy hue, but was hidden ere long in a thick canopy of cloud.
+Not a breath of wind stirred the calm waters.  In the distance a sail
+was seen, which had approached the island during the night.  Captain
+Rymer had been watching her for some time through his glass.  The French
+lieutenant, on observing her, sprang to his feet, and eagerly asked the
+captain to let him look through the glass.
+
+"It is the _Hirondelle_!" he exclaimed.  "Then she did not go down in
+the last hurricane.  My captain guessed rightly that the prize was cast
+away on some island in this direction.  He is a sagacious man."
+
+"I wish his sagacity had not led him to discover us," said Captain
+Rymer.  "If he lands here he may after all succeed in getting off the
+ship."
+
+This announcement caused, as may be supposed, a considerable amount of
+anxiety among those on the island.  While they were watching, two boats
+were seen to leave the schooner.  Hitherto it had been so calm that a
+feather held up would have fallen to the ground.  Suddenly, however,
+there came a low moaning sound, and the leaves of the palm trees began
+to rustle strangely.  In an instant afterwards the blast swept over the
+island, snapping off the tops of many of the tallest trees.  The tents
+were blown down, and it was with difficulty that those on the island
+could avoid being carried away.  The sea, hitherto so calm, came dashing
+in huge foaming billows against the weather side, and breaking over the
+wreck with tremendous force, and it seemed scarcely possible that she
+could resist the blows that she was receiving.  Now one sea and now
+another dashed against her, till she seemed to be completely covered
+with a mass of foam.  They looked out for the schooner, she was nowhere
+to be seen.  Either she had gone down, or had been driven far away by
+the hurricane.  The hurricane continued blowing without cessation; now
+coming from one quarter, and now from another.
+
+Evening was approaching, and an unusual darkness overspread the ocean.
+It was fearful to contemplate what might be the fate of many of those
+who floated on that stormy sea.  It was impossible to put up any shelter
+for the ladies, but Mary felt that she had her father to protect her,
+who sat by her side, sheltering her as well as he could, aided by Harry
+and David.  Thus the night passed away, the whole party sitting grouped
+together for mutual protection.  "What could have become of the
+schooner?" was a question often asked and answered.  The morning broke
+at length.  The _Cerberus_ had disappeared, but still further off, at
+the end of the reef, an object was seen.  It was part of a wreck; there
+were human beings clinging to it.  "Whether Englishmen or Frenchman we
+must endeavour to save them," said Captain Rymer.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ELEVEN.
+
+THE RESCUE OF THE FRENCH SEAMEN--MARY A PRISONER TO THE FRENCH--PIERRE
+DELIVERS HER--BAD CONDUCT OF THE FRENCH.
+
+The hurricane had given signs of abating, but the sea was still far too
+rough to allow of even a good boat going off to the people on the reef;
+still more impossible would it have been to have reached them by means
+of a raft.  On examining the rafts which had been constructed to bring
+the cargo on shore, both were found to have suffered by the hurricane.
+It was determined, therefore, to build a smaller and more manageable
+one, by means of which it was hoped to reach the shipwrecked people.
+This work Captain Williams and his companions immediately set about
+performing.  The French lieutenant now thoroughly aroused, lent his hand
+to it.  In the course of a couple of hours a structure was formed with
+which it was hoped they might venture out to sea.
+
+Their next undertaking was to cut out a number mast, and fit a sail for
+the raft.  Still the sea would not allow them to venture from the shore;
+they had, therefore, to wait patiently, watching in the meantime the
+people whom they were anxious to rescue.  The wreck seemed to be fixed
+firmly at the end of a reef, and to have afforded them a shelter from
+the fury of the seas, which would otherwise have washed them away.
+Still, as they probably had no food nor water, it was impossible that
+they could exist there for any length of time.  Should any attempt be
+made by those on the wreck to reach the shore by swimming, it was but
+too probable that they would be carried off by the sharks, numbers of
+which swarmed around the island.  In the meantime, the men were employed
+in getting up the tent, and in restoring matters to the condition they
+were in before the hurricane.
+
+The poor ladies had suffered greatly from the alarm into which they had
+been thrown, and it was necessary they should obtain that rest which had
+been denied them during the night.  Mary, however, kept up her spirits,
+and could not help expressing her thankfulness that Harry and David had
+been saved, and were thus sharing with her the adventures which she was
+not likely to forget to the end of her days.
+
+"How curious it will be when they hear about us at home," said David,
+"and that we were all wrecked together on this out-of-the-way island."
+
+"But how are they to hear about us?" observed Mary; "we must get away
+from this before we can send a letter home, and how we are to get away
+seems the question."
+
+"Some means will turn up, depend upon it," said Harry, "we shall be seen
+by some passing ship, or if not, we must build a boat and try to reach
+some of the nearest islands.  We are not likely to have to spend all our
+lives here, depend on that."
+
+They little thought of the difficulties and dangers they had still to go
+through.  The day was advancing, but still the sea was considered too
+rough to allow the raft to be launched.  They watched the people on the
+reef, who seemed to be clustering together, and who probably, unless
+they had a telescope, would not be aware that there were any people on
+the shore likely to come to their assistance.  At length the sun set,
+and very unwillingly they were obliged to abandon the hope of going off
+till the following morning.  They anxiously watched the weather during
+the night, and were thankful to find that the wind had dropped to a
+perfect calm.  By daybreak Captain Williams summoned those who had
+agreed to accompany him, consisting of his mate and two English seamen,
+and Jacques Rossillion.  By means of the long sweeps, which had been
+carefully fitted to the raft, they were enabled to urge it along at a
+good speed over the waters.
+
+"Success attend your efforts!" said Captain Rymer, as he assisted in
+shoving off the raft.  Harry and David begged that they might also go,
+and assist in working the sweeps; and their offer was accepted.  They
+had a somewhat long voyage to perform, and though they vigorously worked
+the sweeps they could not move the raft more than at the rate of three
+miles an hour.  As they approached the reef they were perceived by the
+shipwrecked party, who waved to them as if urging them to come faster.
+As they drew near the men pointed to their mouths, indicating that they
+were suffering from thirst.  Unhappily, no water had been brought off.
+Several, it appeared, had been in a state of delirium, and it was very
+evident that it would be dangerous to approach too close to the wreck,
+lest a number jumping upon the raft might upset it.  There appeared to
+be about twenty or thirty people on the wreck, and Captain Williams
+agreed that it would not be safe to convey more than eight or ten at a
+time to the shore.  The French lieutenant recognised the men as
+belonging to the schooner's crew, and he called out to them by name,
+ordering eight at a time to come down, and that they would be taken on
+board.  They did not seem, however, inclined to obey him.  Fortunately,
+Captain Williams had stuck a brace of pistols in his belt, and he now
+threatened to shoot any who might attempt to come on board the raft
+unless ordered by the lieutenant.  This had the effect of keeping back
+the greater number, and eight of the Frenchmen were safely got on board
+the raft, which now at once commenced its return to the shore.  Those
+who remained on the reef entreated that they might not be deserted,
+though they would scarcely believe the promise made by their officer
+that he would return for them.  The poor men who had been rescued showed
+how much they had been suffering by pointing to their parched tongues,
+and again and again asking for water.
+
+Captain Williams and his companions exerted themselves to the utmost to
+reach the shore.  This they at length accomplished, and water was
+immediately procured for the thirsty men.  Their sufferings might be
+those of the whole party, unless great economy was used in distributing
+the precious fluid.  A small cask was put on the raft, with some cups,
+and once more the party set forth to return to the reef, leaving those
+who had first landed to the care of their friends on shore.  As the raft
+again approached the reef, the poor wretches who had been left upon it
+were seen stretching out their hands eagerly for water.  There was still
+great danger lest they might rush down, in their anxiety to obtain it,
+and either fall into the water or upset the raft.  Much caution was
+therefore necessary.  The lieutenant and Jacques first leaped on to the
+rock, when Captain Williams handed them up the cups of water; but the
+first man who got the cup refused to let it leave his lips till he had
+drained every drop.  Two were seen to fall backward after they had
+drunk, and it was with difficulty they were saved from falling into the
+sea.  Several who were already in a state of delirium, scarcely seemed
+to value the boon which had been brought them.  In time, however, water
+was given to all, and it was now necessary to select those who might be
+carried away on the raft, as it would require another trip before all
+could be removed.  Harry and David looked somewhat anxiously for the
+French captain, but neither he nor any of the officers were among those
+saved.  More than half of the crew, it was evident, had been lost.  The
+lieutenant did not ask questions; indeed the poor men were not in a
+condition to have replied to them.
+
+For the safety of the raft it was necessary to secure the limbs of those
+who were in a state of delirium, and it was painful to see them
+struggling, as they lay on the raft, not understanding that this was
+done for their own safety.  The second party were thus landed safely,
+and again the raft put off for the remainder of the crew.  They had to
+row the whole way; indeed it was fortunate that there was no wind, as it
+would have made the approach to the reef much more dangerous.  As it
+was, during the last trip the raft was very nearly driven against the
+rocks by one of those sudden upheavings of the ocean which sometimes
+occur, and send the water breaking over any opposing obstacle.  Happily,
+they were able to shove off in time.
+
+Altogether, nearly thirty people were safely landed.  It became,
+however, a serious consideration to the former occupants of the island,
+how the new comers were to be fed.  They had provisions which might have
+lasted them a couple of months or more, though they had already seen the
+necessity of going upon an allowance of water; their numbers were now
+doubled, and they had not water to last them more than a very short
+time.  Still, disregarding the character of those who had been rescued,
+they did their utmost to restore the poor men who had been thrown upon
+their care.  Two of them, however, died from having drunk a large
+quantity of salt water, and others remained seriously ill for several
+days.
+
+The excitement of going off on the raft having subsided, the French
+lieutenant again sunk into his former moody state.  At length the
+Frenchmen appeared to have recovered, but they did not seem inclined to
+associate with the English, nor with Jacques nor Pierre, who continued
+to perform their former duties.  Captain Rymer and Captain Williams
+agreed that it would be necessary to put a guard over their provisions
+and stores, lest the Frenchmen should take it into their heads to help
+themselves without leave.  It was explained to them that they must be
+content with a very moderate amount of food, and a still smaller
+quantity of water, unless a supply of the latter could be found.  They
+seemingly acquiesced in the wisdom of this, but from the looks they
+exchanged with each other, it was but too probable that they would be
+tempted to break through the regulations which had been formed on the
+subject.
+
+With regard to food, they might obtain sufficient to support life both
+from the shell-fish on the shore, and from any fish they might catch,
+while the trees promised to afford them a supply of cocoanuts.  But
+water was what they most required; without that it would be impossible
+to support existence.  As long, however, as they were supplied with
+food, the Frenchmen did not show any inclination to search for it for
+themselves.  Pierre was sent to tell them that lines would be provided
+for them, if they would try to catch some fish, and again the captain
+set out to make a fresh search for water.
+
+As soon as the Frenchmen had recovered, they showed a very different
+disposition to what they had previously exhibited.  They then received
+the food given to them by the English with apparent gratitude.  Now,
+however, when it was sent to them they seized it rudely, and grumbled
+because the supply was not larger.  Captain Rymer endeavoured to explain
+to the French lieutenant that the arrangements made were for the good of
+all.  He, however, either had no authority over his countrymen or
+pretended to have none.  Still, as he associated himself with them, it
+was evident that he intended to side with them whatever they might do.
+This state of things gave considerable anxiety to the English officers.
+It was arranged that a strict guard should be kept over the provisions
+and water, and that no one should be allowed to take anything from the
+stores.
+
+Pierre continued, as before, to attend on the English, though he
+occasionally paid a visit to the French, who were encamped at some
+little distance, and out of sight of the rest of the party.  On being
+questioned, he said that the French claimed the stores as their own,
+because they had captured the vessel from which they were taken, and
+that they were very angry at the idea of the English appropriating them.
+It was agreed, however, that unless they were preserved as before, the
+French sailors would probably consume the whole in a very short time,
+and all the party would be left in a state of starvation.  Still, as the
+French had hitherto shown no disposition to annoy the English, the
+passengers continued to stroll about the shore of the island without any
+apprehension, as they had been accustomed to do.  Harry and David
+frequently escorted Mary in these expeditions.  They always returned
+with a basket-full of shell-fish of various sorts.  The boys also fitted
+some fishing lines, and after a little practice they succeeded in
+catching a great many fish.  Some of them were very beautiful; but when
+they showed them to Jacques, he told them that they were not fit to be
+eaten.  Others, however, were excellent, and they had thus no
+apprehension with regard to not having provisions for their support,
+even though they might remain on the island for many months.  The great
+anxiety was with regard to water.
+
+One day Mary and her young companions had gone along the shore for a
+considerable distance, when they reached a point of rock upon which they
+believed that they should be able to catch a number of fish.  Mary did
+not take the same interest in the sport that they did, but preferred
+wandering along the beach and picking up the beautiful shells, and
+several curious creatures that had been cast on shore.  Harry and David
+soon began to catch a number of fish, and were completely absorbed in
+their sport.  Mary said that she would go along the beach some little
+distance, and then return to them.  They saw her walking along, now
+stooping down to pick up a shell, now continuing her course close to the
+water, when a rock hid her from view.  Just at that moment the fish
+began to bite faster and faster, and as they hauled them up in their
+eagerness they forgot to look out for their companion.  Suddenly Harry
+exclaimed, "What can have become of Mary?  She is a long time away."
+
+They both shouted her name, but there was no answer.  Gathering up their
+lines and their fish they leaped off the rock, and ran along the beach
+in the direction she had gone.  They did not, however, see her, and
+became greatly alarmed.  In vain they shouted her name.
+
+"She certainly could not have turned back and gone the other way," said
+Philip; "besides, see, here are the marks of her feet on the sand; she
+must have gone on further than she intended."  They traced her by the
+marks of her feet in the sand for a considerable distance, when she
+appeared to have turned inland, away from the beach.  "Surely here are
+the marks of other feet," said David; "if there were any savages on the
+island, I should be afraid she had been carried off by them."
+
+They now pursued in the direction of the marks of the feet, though
+Mary's were no longer to be traced.  The ground in the centre of the
+island being hard, they here lost all traces.  They looked round in
+every direction.  No persons were to be seen.  They continued running
+eagerly forward, shouting again and again Mary's name, when they found
+themselves in front of the French camp.  The French jeered at them as
+they passed, and as they were unable to speak French, they could not
+enquire if any of the people had seen Mary.  Not knowing what else to
+do, they hurried back to their own friends with the bad news.  Captain
+Rymer at first would scarcely credit the account they gave him.  He
+however, with the two boys and Captain Williams, immediately set out to
+search the neighbourhood of the spot where Mary had disappeared.  It was
+evident to them that she had not been carried away from the island; they
+therefore came to the conclusion that the Frenchmen had made her a
+prisoner, in the hopes that they might thus compel the English to agree
+to any terms they might propose.
+
+Captain Rymer therefore determined to go to the French with Pierre as
+interpreter, and to ascertain what terms the French had to propose.  At
+first they denied that she was with them, but said that they were
+determined to have one half of the provisions and water as their proper
+share.  Captain Rymer replied that they were determined for the good of
+all those on the island not to give up the provisions, and again
+enquired whether they had seen his young daughter, but could get no
+answer in return; and doubting whether the French really knew anything
+about Mary, he returned to consult further with Captain Williams.  It
+was agreed that, should they yield to the demands of the Frenchmen, as
+soon as the first half of the provisions were consumed they would demand
+the remainder, and that, therefore, it would be wiser at once to refuse
+their demands.
+
+The day was drawing on, but still there were no signs of Mary.  They
+arranged that Jacques should carry their food as usual to the French,
+and endeavour to obtain all the information that he could.  Harry and
+David offered to go and watch in the neighbourhood of the camp, so that
+if she really was there, and could make her escape, they might be ready
+to assist her.  While they remained concealed, Pierre went on into the
+camp.  He brought a larger supply of food than usual to each man, and
+talked to one and then to the other, often in no complimentary terms of
+the English.
+
+"And why do you remain with them?" was the question put to him.
+
+"Because I am well fed; and until you came I had none else to associate
+with except Jacques, and I cannot make out whether he likes the English
+or our own countrymen the best."
+
+"Then do you intend to remain with us now?" was the question put to
+Pierre.
+
+"O yes!  I have had enough of the English, and wish to throw in my
+fortunes with my own countrymen."
+
+The Frenchmen seemed to think that Pierre was in earnest, as he showed
+no inclination to leave them.  He was, however, very busy in going about
+among the huts, whilst he put several questions to his countrymen, as to
+whether they could guess anything about the little girl who had been
+carried off.  "Our lieutenant knows something about that, and as he does
+not want to fight with the English, hopes to gain his object by
+diplomacy."
+
+This convinced Pierre that Mary was in the camp, and he determined to
+set her free if he could.  There was a hut in a grove close to the camp,
+into which he had hitherto not looked, and he thought it very likely
+that Mary had been shut up there.  He knew, however, that he should be
+watched, especially by the lieutenant, who was walking up and down on
+the beach, in his usual moody manner.  Nothing could be done, at all
+events, until it was dark; and he therefore continued laughing and
+talking with his countrymen, so as if possible to throw them off their
+guard.  He observed the lieutenant once visit the hut with a tin of
+food, and, on leaving it, he placed a log of wood across the door.  This
+convinced him more even than before that Mary was shut up there.
+
+Night came on at last.  By the conversation of the Frenchmen, he feared
+that they had determined to have possession of the provisions by force,
+if they could not gain them in any other way.  The Frenchmen amused
+themselves as their countrymen, even under the most adverse
+circumstances, are accustomed to do, by singing, telling stories, and
+occasionally getting up and dancing.  At last, tired with their
+exertions, they laid themselves down in their huts.  Pierre waited until
+they all seemed asleep.  He most dreaded being detected by the
+lieutenant.  He crept cautiously near the hut in which he was lying
+down, and, greatly to his satisfaction, found that he also was asleep.
+He instantly stole off to the hut in which he believed Mary was
+confined.  The log at the entrance was somewhat heavy, and he had no
+little difficulty in removing it without making a noise.  He pushed back
+the rough planks that formed the door, and there, to his infinite
+satisfaction, he saw Mary.  She was seated on a heap of boughs in a
+corner of the hut, with her hands tied together, and her feet secured to
+a log.  She uttered an exclamation of surprise on hearing Pierre
+approach.
+
+"Hush!" he said, "make no noise, I have come to release you."
+
+He fortunately had the knife in his pocket that David had given him, and
+with this he quickly cut the ropes with which the little girl was bound.
+
+"Now," he said, "take my hand, and I will lead you to those with whom
+you will soon find your way back to your friends."
+
+Saying this, he took her hand and led her through the grove, the French
+camp soon being lost sight of.  They quickly found the spot where Harry
+and David were waiting.  The boys were delighted at finding their young
+companion, and hurried off, supporting her between them, to their
+friends, while Pierre returned to the French.  Captain Rymer was
+overjoyed at seeing his daughter, as will be supposed.  The English did
+not rest much that night, not knowing what the French would next do.  It
+was nearly morning when a footstep was heard approaching the camp, and
+Pierre came running up.  "My countrymen have determined to attack you,
+and take the provisions by force," he said; "I had just time to escape,
+for they already suspected me of assisting Miss Rymer to escape."
+
+Jacques, who had remained with the English, was very sorry to hear what
+the French proposed doing; he promised, however, to fight on the side of
+his friends.  Ten muskets, and a small supply of powder and ball, had
+been brought from the wreck.  Of these the Frenchman were not aware, but
+as there was very little ammunition, it would soon be exhausted, and
+then numbers would prevail.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWELVE.
+
+THE ARRIVAL OF THE "ARETHUSA"--THE FRENCH TAKEN PRISONERS--DAVID BECOMES
+A MIDSHIPMAN--THE FIGHT AND VICTORY--JOY AT HOME--THE END.
+
+Captain Rymer had taken the precaution of throwing up a breastwork round
+the camp, which might assist him in repelling any attack of the
+Frenchmen.  "Though my countrymen will kill me if they discover I have
+warned you, I would rather die than that you should be taken by
+surprise," exclaimed Pierre, as he was helped over the parapet.
+
+"We hope that we shall be able to protect you," said Harry, who with
+David had been on guard some time.
+
+"Never fear; we have firearms, and your countrymen are without them.  If
+they come, they will receive a warmer reception than they expect."
+
+A few minutes afterwards a number of persons were seen stealing towards
+the camp, and evidently hoping to take the company by surprise.
+"Silence!" said Captain Rymer to his companions, "we will let them
+suppose that we are asleep, and then, if we suddenly start up and fire a
+musket or two over their heads they will become so alarmed that they
+will perhaps desist from the attack."  This plan was followed out.  The
+Frenchmen were evidently somewhat startled at finding that those they
+had come to attack were better armed than themselves.
+
+"Now, Pierre, tell them that if they come on many of them will be
+killed," said Captain Rymer; "we don't wish to injure them, but we are
+resolved not to yield to their demand."
+
+The Frenchmen hearing this at first seemed to hesitate, but shouting to
+each other they again advanced towards the embankment.  "You will take
+the consequences of your folly," said Captain Rymer, and Pierre
+interpreted what he said.  Several shots were fired, and two or three of
+the Frenchmen were apparently hit.  The discharge had the effect of
+making them retreat.  It was evident, however, that from the few muskets
+that had gone off that the powder was far from good, and that little
+dependence could therefore be placed on their firearms.  Still it
+appeared that the French had had enough for the moment, as having failed
+in their expected surprise of the English they retreated once more to
+their own camp.  But the state of affairs was very serious, as it could
+not be supposed that they would not again attempt to attack the camp.
+
+"One thing must be done," observed Captain Rymer; "as soon as the sun
+comes out we must dry our powder, that it may prove of more use than it
+did just now."  In a short time daylight broke, and the sun, rising out
+of the ocean, shed a bright light over the scene.  As he rose, his rays
+fell on the white sails of a ship, not two miles from the island.
+Captain Rymer's telescope was immediately turned towards her.  "She's an
+English frigate," he exclaimed.
+
+"Let me look, sir! let me look!" cried Harry, eagerly.
+
+"That she is, indeed, and my own ship, the _Arethusa_, I am sure she is,
+I should know her among fifty other frigates.  We expected that she
+would be sent out to the West Indies."
+
+The great point was now to draw the attention of those on board the
+frigate to the island.  A flagstaff was quickly erected at a point clear
+of the trees, and as the flag was run up, several muskets were fired at
+the same time.  They waited anxiously to see the effect.  In another
+minute an answering gun was fired from the frigate, and almost at the
+same moment a couple of boats were seen approaching the shore.  Harry's
+delight was very great when he recognised several of his shipmates in
+the boats.  The second lieutenant of the frigate, who came in command,
+was the first person to step on shore.  Harry, forgetting his own
+appearance, instantly ran up to him, and was somewhat mortified at the
+look of astonishment with which the lieutenant regarded him.
+
+"What, don't you know me, sir?" exclaimed Harry.
+
+"I begin to have an idea," said the lieutenant, putting out his hand,
+"though there are one or two reasons why I should not know you.  The
+first is, that we thought you had lost the number of your mess; and,
+excuse me, you certainly do not look like an English midshipman."
+
+"No, sir, I don't think I do," said Harry, laughing.  "Now let me
+introduce my friends to you.  Here is Mr David Morton, and Captain
+Rymer and Miss Rymer, and all these ladies and gentlemen.  And it will
+take some time to tell you all about ourselves."
+
+Harry, in his joy, let his tongue run on, scarcely knowing what he was
+saying.  Captain Rymer now stepped forward and explained the state of
+affairs.  This required some little time to do.
+
+"I am sure the captain will be very glad to receive the master, crew,
+and all the passengers of the _Cerberus_ on board the frigate," replied
+the lieutenant; "but I don't know how he will be inclined to treat the
+Frenchmen, who have behaved as you have described.  If they are left on
+the island they will probably perish of thirst.  But, in the meantime,
+should any English vessel come here, they might take the crew prisoners,
+and make off in her."
+
+It was agreed, therefore, that the best way would be to carry them off
+as prisoners to Jamaica.  The Frenchmen were very indignant at hearing
+the arrangements that had been made, but when they saw that the boat's
+crew were armed they had the sense to know that resistance was useless.
+Harry and David entreated that Pierre and Jacques might not be made
+prisoners, and of course their request was granted.  Both Jacques and
+Pierre begged that they might enter on board the frigate.  In a short
+time nearly all those who had lately been living on the island were
+carried on board the frigate.  The Frenchmen were placed in the prison
+forward.  There was one exception, however, the French lieutenant was
+nowhere to be found.  While the rest of his countrymen were embarking he
+had disappeared.  A boat's crew was sent on shore to search for him.
+The only trace that could be discovered of him was his hat at the end of
+a ledge of rocks, off which it was supposed he had thrown himself, and
+been drowned.  Poor man! he had given up all hopes of happiness in this
+life, and had refused to believe in a life to come.
+
+In those days it was not so difficult to enter the navy as at the
+present time.  Notwithstanding all the hardships David had gone through
+he was as anxious as ever to become a midshipman.  The captain promised
+to place him on the quarter-deck, if he preferred remaining out in the
+West Indies instead of going home.  David was naturally very anxious to
+see his friends; but at the same time his darling desire to enter the
+navy could now be realised.  If he went home he would be separated from
+Harry, whom he now looked upon more than ever as a brother.
+
+"At all events, I will remain out," said David, "till I can hear from
+home, and then, should my father and mother desire me to return, I must
+obey them."
+
+The frigate conveyed Captain Rymer to his government, in the island of,
+and as she was constantly cruising about in that neighbourhood Harry and
+David had frequent opportunities of seeing Mary.  Those were stirring
+days, and midshipmen met with various adventures.  David at length
+anxiously broke open a letter which reached him from home.  His father
+and mother expressed their gratitude to Heaven that he had escaped so
+many dangers, and told him that, as his heart was set on becoming a
+midshipman, they would no longer oppose his wishes.
+
+Several years passed by; the frigate was at one time cruising amongst
+the West Indian Islands, and at another time she was sent to Halifax,
+then the chief station of the American squadron.  Fully four years
+passed away before she was ordered home.  The command held by Captain
+Rymer at the same time came to an end, and he and Mary prepared to
+return to England.  The _Arethusa_ sailed some little time after them.
+Her crew, as was too often the case, was diminished by yellow fever; but
+the survivors thought only of once more reaching their native land, and
+looked forward with joy at the prospect of again seeing the white cliffs
+of old England.  Already the frigate was more than half-way across the
+Atlantic, when one morning a sail was espied on the weather-bow; the
+sails were trimmed and the frigate gave chase.  The stranger took her
+for an enemy, and did everything to escape, and not without good hopes
+of success, for she was evidently a fast craft.
+
+The _Arethusa_ was, however, one of the fastest frigates in the navy,
+and it was not likely that the chase would succeed, unless, favoured by
+the darkness, she might alter her course during the night.  A sharp
+look-out was kept.  Twice the look-out man exclaimed that she was
+nowhere to be seen, but again she was caught sight of.  When morning
+dawned it was calculated that the frigate had gained considerably upon
+her.  The chase continued for the best part of the day.  At last the
+frigate got her within length of her bow-chasers.  Several shots were
+fired without inducing her to haul down her colours, which were French.
+She was a large schooner, a powerful vessel, with heavy masts and sails.
+At length a shot carried away her main-topmast, and now, finding that
+any further attempt at escaping was useless, the colours were hauled
+down.  She proved to be a French privateer returning home after a
+successful cruise.  The rage of the Frenchmen was very great at finding
+themselves captured, when they so soon expected to be in _La Belle
+France_ to enjoy the booty they had obtained.  In a short time, however,
+after the greater number had been transferred to the deck of the
+frigate, they were dancing and singing, apparently forgetful of their
+misfortune.  As no lieutenant from the frigate could be spared to take
+charge of the prize, Harry, who had now become an experienced officer,
+was sent on board in command, and David went as his lieutenant.  Pierre
+begged that he might accompany them.  For two or three days they kept in
+sight of the frigate, but a gale coming on, with thick weather, when
+morning broke the _Arethusa_ was nowhere to be seen.
+
+"We must find our way up Channel as best we can," said Harry.  "I think
+you and I can manage a correct day's work, though we have not had as
+much experience in navigation as would be desirable."
+
+The weather continued bad for several days, during which the schooner
+was hove-to.  Once more the sky cleared; the wind moderated, and a
+coarse was steered up Channel.
+
+"I can scarcely fancy that more than four years have passed away since
+you and I drifted out here in a boat with poor old Jefferies.  We return
+in a very different style, don't we?" remarked Harry to his companion.
+
+They had reached, they calculated, the chops of the Channel, when a
+large merchant ship was seen ahead.
+
+"Should she prove to be an enemy's craft she will make a rich prize,"
+said David.
+
+"I rather think she is English," said Harry; "but see, there is another
+vessel, a large lugger I make her out to be, bearing down upon her.  The
+lugger is French, there is no doubt about that.  I should not be
+surprised if she is a privateer, about to pounce down upon the merchant
+vessel.  If the Frenchmen have seen us, they take us to be French also,
+and are anxious to secure the prize before we come up," observed Harry.
+"I am not, however, certain that she will do that; see, there is a
+strong breeze from the westward coming up, and the sails of the two
+vessels are already becalmed."
+
+Harry was right; the schooner carried up the breeze, and stood in
+between the two vessels before the lugger had time to fire a shot.
+Instantly hoisting English colours, Harry boldly stood towards the
+lugger, followed by the merchant ship.  He at once opened fire on the
+lugger, who made all sail to escape.  This was what Harry had determined
+she should not do.  The schooner carried two long guns in her bows.
+These were so well worked that after a few shots the lugger's mizen-mast
+was knocked away.  The main-mast followed, and the lugger, being now
+reduced to an almost helpless condition, hauled down her colours.  As
+may be supposed, Harry and David's delight was very great, at not only
+having made so valuable a prize, but saving a valuable merchant vessel
+from capture.  Still greater was their satisfaction when going on board
+the merchant vessel, they found that Captain Rymer and Mary were amongst
+the passengers.
+
+The merchantman was bound for Falmouth, and to that port Harry also
+resolved to steer with the prize, as she was not in a condition to be
+taken up Channel.  The next morning the three vessels anchored in
+Falmouth Harbour.  As neither Harry nor David could leave their vessels,
+a messenger was despatched to their homes, and in a short time Mr and
+Mrs Morton, Mrs Merryweather, and a considerable number of friends who
+formed the picnic party on that memorable day when Harry and David went
+adrift in a boat, were collected at the Green Bank Hotel.  If Harry had
+been looked upon as a hero on the distant day of which we speak, much
+more so was he now.
+
+Both Harry and David rose to rank and honour in the noble profession
+they had selected, and as soon as the former obtained his rank as
+post-captain, Mary Rymer became his wife; and among the adventures he
+loved to describe to his young descendants, was that of how he and his
+friend Admiral Morton, in their younger days, went "Adrift in a Boat."
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Adrift in a Boat, by W.H.G. Kingston
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