bility of mistake. Captain Potter, I appeal to you, as one sailor
to another; I appeal to your humanity; send me up the glass that I may
set this question at rest. Surely you would not willingly or knowingly
leave a fellow-creature to perish miserably, rather than take the
trouble to investigate--"

"Will you come down out of that, or won't you?" demanded Potter,
angrily:

Then, seeing that Leslie was again gazing eagerly out across the glassy
surface of the water, the skipper shouted--

"Bill and Tom, up with you both into the main-top and fetch that man
down. If he won't come peaceably, heave him down! I'm cap'n of this
ship, and I don't mean to allow anybody aboard her to disobey my orders.
Now, hurry, you swabs; no skulking, or I'll freshen your way for you
with the end of this fore-brace." And he threateningly threw a coil of
stout rope off a belaying-pin by way of hastening the movements of the
two men.

Looking down on deck, Leslie saw the seamen spring with some alacrity
into the main rigging, and then continue their ascent with exaggerated
deliberateness, mumbling to each other meanwhile. And as they did so,
he saw Miss Trevor step quickly to Potter's side and lay her hand upon
his arm as she spoke to him--pleadingly, if he might judge by her whole
attitude, and the low-toned accents of her voice. He saw Potter seize
her hand and tuck it under his arm, patting it caressingly for an
instant ere she snatched it away indignantly and walked from him to the
other side of the deck; and then the heads of the two men, Bill and Tom,
showed over the rim of the top.

"Better come down, sir," said one of them. "The skipper 've got a very
queer temper, as you may see, sir; and if you don't come he'll lay the
blame on to us; and'll think nothin' of takin' it out of us with a
rope's-end."

"Come up here into the top, both of you," commanded Leslie. "Never
trouble about your skipper and his temper. I believe there is some one
alive, on that wreckage away yonder, and I shall be glad to have your
opinions upon the matter. Now," as they joined him in the top, "there
is the wreckage, about two points on the starboard quarter. Do you see
it?"

"Ay, ay sir; I sees it, plain enough," answered the man named Bill;
while his companion, Tom, replied, "Yes; I can see something afloat out
there, certingly; but I wouldn't like to take it upon me to say what it
is."

"Very well," said Leslie, turning to Bill; "you appe