pose that this
thunderstorm were to end in a heavy squall of wind--as it may at any
moment--catching the boat, with Saunders and me in her, halfway or
thereabout between the two vessels, what would be the result? Why, that
we should be equally unable to reach the schooner or return to the
_Mercury_. We should all part company; and the chances are that none of
us would ever again meet in this world! No, no, I suppose we should all
be willing to risk a great deal to help our fellow-creatures in
extremity; but we must not lightly undertake an adventure that may be
fatal to us, while of very problematical advantage to the others. Ah!
see, there is the answer to your appeal, Gracie! They have cleared away
the longboat, and now they are hoisting her out, none too soon either;
for if my eyes do not deceive me, one gang have to sluice her with water
to prevent her taking fire while the others are getting her over the
side."

It was even as Gurney had said; the flames had spread with such
astounding rapidity that the schooner's crew only saved the boat by the
very skin of their teeth. But presently she splashed safely into the
water alongside, and as she did so the schooner's people seemed to pour
over that vessel's low rail in a body, scarcely giving themselves time
to unhook the tackles before they flung out their oars and shoved off.
Indeed, there was very urgent need for haste; for not only was the
entire after part of the schooner ablaze by this time--the flames
shooting straight up in the breathless air as high as the little
vessel's main truck--but within the last minute or so there had occurred
that abrupt cessation which, in the case of tropical thunderstorms, is
so frequently the precursor of a sudden and brief but exceedingly
violent squall of wind. And if that threatened squall should burst its
bonds and come shrieking and howling in fury across the surface of the
sea, scourging it into a mad turmoil of foaming, leaping water and
blinding spindrift, while the burnt-out crew of the schooner were making
their passage across to the _Mercury_, it might be very bad for them;
for even should they be fortunate enough to avoid capsizal, it might be
exceedingly difficult, if not altogether impossible, for the ship,
smitten and bowed down by the might of the tempest, to pause and pick
them up.

Of course, as we fully expected, the boat headed straight for the
_Mercury_; and the only question now was whether she would