he hurried down to his dispensary, and quickly returned
with a stimulant, which he poured down his throat. The effect was
wonderful, for scarcely had it been swallowed than the patient gave
signs of returning animation. The last poor fellow, after a careful
examination, he pronounced beyond human aid.

"Had we arrived half an hour sooner, his life might have been saved," he
observed, "for even now he is scarcely cold."

The surgeon soon came up.

"We'll try what can be done," he said, "for I never despair in a case of
this sort."

All his efforts, however, proved vain; and he at last had to acknowledge
to the assistant-surgeon that the unfortunate man was beyond recovery.
The yards had in the meantime been braced round, and the ship had been
standing on her course.

Rayner was now sent for into the cabin, where he found the midshipman he
had saved placed in the commander's cot.

"Do you see a likeness to any one you know?" asked Commander Saltwell.

"Yes," answered Rayner, looking at the countenance of the young
stranger, who was sleeping calmly; "I thought so from the first; he
reminds me of Mrs Crofton, or, rather, of her daughter."

"So he does me. I have little doubt that he is Oliver Crofton, and I
can fully account for his being on board the privateer," said the
commander. "She must have captured the prize of which he was in charge.
I fear that the rest of the men who were prisoners on board have
perished."

"I am thankful that he has been saved," said Rayner. "It would
well-nigh have broken Mrs Crofton's and her daughter's hearts if they
had heard that he had died in so dreadful a manner, though to be sure no
one would have known of it unless we had fallen in with the raft."

The doctor would not allow any questions to be asked his patient until
he had several times taken a small quantity of nourishment, and had
passed the intermediate time in sleep; and the commander also kindly
directed that he should be allowed to remain in his cot, while he had a
hammock slung in his cabin for himself.

The surgeon or assistant-surgeon was in constant attendance on him
during the night.

Their unremitting care was rewarded, for soon after the hammocks were
piped up the young stranger opened his eyes, and exclaimed in a faint
voice, with a tone of astonishment, "Where am I? What has happened?"

"You are all right, and safe among friends," said the commander, who had
just turned out of his hammock, coming