hen a whole broadside was fired at me.
But not a shot struck. They tore up the water all round, and
ricochetted over me. Before they could reload I was almost beyond
range, for the gale was freshening every moment, and the canvas spread
was enough almost to tear the masts out of the ship. The water hissed
as she flew over the heaving waves, and in a few minutes I felt that I
was _free_.

Oh the feeling of wild delight that filled me when I realised this! I
lashed the helm amidships, and ran down below to tell Jack what I had
done. He was asleep. By a powerful effort I restrained myself, and did
not disturb him. Then I rushed on deck. My brain seemed on fire. I
shouted, laughed, and sang, and wept, until I began to feel a terrible
sensation of dread lest I should go mad. But this, instead of calming
me, caused me to dance and sing and shout the more. A burning thirst
came upon me. I ran to the water-cask and drank till I could drink no
more. I was refreshed; but soon the fever returned fiercer than ever.
I was mad! I knew it; I felt it; but I did not care. I saw that the
storm increased; this caused me to shout again with joy at the thought
that I was so quickly borne away from the scene of butchery, and from
the fiends in human form with whom I had so lately associated.

The gale burst in all its fury upon us. The sails were new and strong;
the ship plunged into the waves, a green billow swept in-board and burst
in fury on the deck, carrying away boats and loose spars. I yelled with
delight, and plunged into the brine that lashed the deck from stem to
stern. I heard a noise overhead; but was so confused that I could not
understand what it was. As I gazed, there came a terrific blast. The
mainsail split from top to bottom. The topsails burst and were blown to
ribbons. At the same moment, I received a violent blow on the head.

After that, all was darkness and oblivion.

STORY TWO, CHAPTER 6.

When consciousness returned to me I found myself lying on my back on the
deck of a vessel, surrounded and propped up by pillows; and Jack Brown
sitting beside me reading a book.

I felt a curious sensation of weakness and emptiness in my head--as if
it were hollow, and a strange disinclination, almost inability, to speak
or think. Suddenly this passed away, and the events which I have
related in the previous chapters rushed back upon my memory with vivid
power.

"It must have been a dream," I thoug