ickly, as he looked vainly now in
search of the flying craft. "Ah, there she is again! I began to think
she had gone down. Why is she seen so dimly sometimes?"

"Hidden by the flying spray, I think," said Uncle Paul.

"Oh yes, of course," cried the boy. "Ah, there she is, quite clear now,
and still going on nearer and nearer to the harbour mouth. No--now it's
getting darker than ever.--There, now she's coming into sight again
quite clearly."

"Yes, she's getting out where the harbour lights are full upon her,"
said Uncle Paul.

As he spoke there were two more reports, almost simultaneous, and Rodd
felt a peculiar sense of pain attacking him, for at one moment when the
two guns flashed, the brig could be plainly seen; the next, as the boy
strained his eyes, all was black darkness, and he caught at his uncle's
arm with his hands trembling and an intense longing upon him to speak;
but no words would come.

It seemed like some minutes before a word was uttered, and then it was
the doctor who spoke.

"I haven't caught sight of the boats lately," he said. "It is evident
that they have given up the chase."

"Oh, uncle, uncle," cried Rodd, "I was not thinking about them, but of
those poor fellows in the brig. One of those last shots must have hit,
and they have gone down."

"Oh no," cried Uncle Paul; "I saw her once again. Just now.--Yes, there
she is, tossing wildly in the waves. She must be beyond the mouth of
the harbour, and--"

"Yes, I see her! I see her!" cried Rodd wildly. "No, she's gone again;
but she was pitching and tossing horribly."

"Yes," said Uncle Paul. "It's going to be hard work for them now, for
the waves out there must be tremendous. Well, my boy, it was a daring
attempt, and whoever they are let's hope they may escape, but--"

Uncle Paul was silent, and once more the boy uttered a low groan.

Then no one spoke, but all stood straining their eyes to try and catch
sight again of the vessel, which had seemed to be pitching wildly in the
darkness; but they looked in vain, for all now seemed to be rapidly
growing black.

The boy tried to speak, but no words would come, and even the waiter was
silent, as he stood trying to catch sight of the vessel once more; but
the darkness now was rapidly increasing, and though from time to time
they could make out the faint outline of the lights, all seemed to
become more dense and obscure, and the boy started violently as their
guide suddenly e