ded their
operations, and it became a matter of doubt as to whether the woodwork
would not fall asunder before it could be properly fastened together.

As I watched the men at their work M. Letourneur, with one arm
supporting his son, came and stood by my side.

"Don't you think this main-top will soon give way?" he said, as the
narrow platform on which we stood creaked and groaned with the swaying
of the masts.

Miss Herbey heard his words, and pointing towards Mrs. Kear, who was
lying prostrate at her feet, asked what we thought ought to be done.

"We can do nothing but stay where we are," I replied.

"No;" said Andre "this is our best refuge; I hope you are not afraid."

"Not for myself," said the young girl quietly "only for those to whom
life is precious."

At a quarter to eight we heard the boatswain calling to the sailors in
the bows.

"Ay, ay, sir," said one of the men--O'Ready, I think.

"Where's the whale boat?" shouted the boatswain.

"I don't know, sir. Not with us," was the reply.

"She's gone adrift, then!"

And sure enough the whale-boat was no longer hanging from the bowsprit;
and in a moment the discovery was made that Mr. Kear, Silas Huntly, and
three sailors,--a Scotchman and two Englishmen,--were missing. Afraid
that the "Chancellor" would founder before the completion of the raft,
Kear and Huntly had plotted together to effect their escape, and had
bribed the three sailors to seize the only remaining boat.

This, then, was the black speck that I had seen during the night. The
miserable husband had deserted his wife, the faithless captain had
abandoned the ship that had once been under his command.

"There are five saved, then," said the boatswain.

"Faith, an it's five lost ye'll be maning," said O'Ready; and the state
of the sea fully justified his opinion.

The crew were furious when they heard of the surreptitious flight,
and loaded the fugitives with all the invectives they could lay their
tongues to. So enraged were they at the dastardly trick of which they
had been made the dupes, that if chance should bring the deserters again
on board I should be sorry to answer for the consequences.

In accordance with my advice, Mrs. Kear has not been informed of her
husband's disappearance. The unhappy lady is wasting away with a fever
for which we are powerless to supply a remedy, for the medicine chest
was lost when the ship began to sink. Nevertheless, I do not think we
have anythi