d those shrieks mean? There
were no sound of footsteps on deck; the movement of the vessel was
different; she no longer went ahead, but lay tossed about by the sea.

"Boys, are you prepared to meet your God?" asked the captain, in a deep
tone, making an effort to speak. "Pray with me." The boys went to him
and knelt by his side. He tried in vain to lift up his hands. They
repeated the solemn words he uttered. His speech grew fainter and
fainter, then ceased altogether. A few faint groans followed, then
there was an ominous silence. Robby held the lantern to the old man's
face. The eyes were open, but all expression had gone.

"Speak, Captain Snow; speak, Mr Snow--oh! do--do!" cried the boy.
"He's gone--the captain's dead, Bill," he said, sadly, after waiting for
some time and getting no answer. "How sorry father and the rest will
be!"

The boys had not even then realised what had happened on deck. Again
the lugger was wildly tossed about. Another heavy blow was followed by
a rush of water below. It seemed to come in forward. They could stand
the suspense no longer, but rushing up the companion-ladder, with their
united strength they forced back the hatch, and looked out. Better had
it been for them, poor boys, had they remained in ignorance till
daylight of what had happened.

The masts were gone; the boat was gone; the bulwarks were gone; and not
a human being remained on deck. The sea had swept it clear, with the
exception of the companion-hatch, which was low and unusually strong.
To this they owed their preservation. Had it been carried away, the
vessel must soon have filled; as it was, the fore-hatch had lifted, and
allowed the water to pour down. Should it be carried away, the vessel
would very probably go down. Mechanically drawing over the hatch again,
they returned into the cabin, and sat down, sobbing and wringing their
hands.

"Perhaps they're gone away in the boat," suggested Bill Cuffe.

Hobby for an instant checked his tears, but immediately saw the
improbability of this. "Oh, no, no! They're all gone! they're all
gone!" he repeated again and again. "No one but us two and the dead
captain aboard the craft."

"What shall we do, then?" asked Bill, after a long silence.

Hobby looked at his companion earnestly before speaking. "Trust in God,
and do our duty," he said, at length.

"Yes, but what is our duty, Robby?"

"I don't see that we can do much, as yet," answered Robby,