ird mate summoned me
to accompany him into the forehold to get up some casks of provisions.
While searching for those he wanted, I heard a sound as if some one was
gasping for breath, and then a low moan. I told the mate.

"What can that be, sir?" I asked. "It comes from forward."

"Take the lantern, and see if there is any one there," he answered.

I made my way to the spot whence I fancied the sounds proceeded, and
lowering my lantern into a small hole, I saw the figure of a boy
crouching down, with his head resting against a cask. He made no
movement, and his eyes appeared to be closed.

"There's some one here, sir," I cried out. "He seems to be very far
gone."

The mate quickly joined me. "A young stowaway!" he exclaimed. "We must
have him on deck at once, or it will be beyond the doctor's skill to
bring him round. I have known more than one lad lose his life in this
way; and I shall get blamed for not having examined the hold before we
left port."

Saying this he lifted the lad in his arms while I held the lantern, and
forthwith carried him on deck. The low groans the boy uttered showed us
that he was still alive, but he was pale as death and in a wretched
condition. He was dressed like a respectable lad, but his face and
clothes were covered with dirt.

"The captain will be in a great taking when he finds this out," said the
mate; "still more so if the young fellow dies. Go aft, Ned, and call
the doctor; maybe he'll be able to bring him round."

I hurried aft, and soon found the surgeon, who was in his dispensary.
When I told him what he was wanted for, he at once, bringing some
medicine with him, hurried forward.

"This will do him good," he said, pouring some liquid down the lad's
throat. "I don't think, Mr Simmons, that you need be anxious about
him."

The young stowaway almost immediately opened his eyes and stared about
him. The doctor then ordered the cook to get some broth ready, while
two of the women passengers brought some warm water and washed the poor
lad's face and hands. The broth, which he eagerly swallowed, revived
him still more, and the doctor considered that he had sufficiently
recovered to be conveyed to the sick bay, the women offering to stay by
his side and to give him medicine and food as he might require them.

"If he is carefully tended he may come round," said the doctor; "but had
he remained another hour in the hold I feel pretty sure that he would
have lost