h phosphorescent light,
seemed to rise over the ship's side, curve down over, glide under the
barge lying in its chocks, and then lift the laden boat away over the
open side.

It was seen for a few moments and then disappeared, going in one swift
glide away into the darkness, leaving the doctor, his patient, and the
old sailor amidst the hissing waters alone upon the deck.

CHAPTER FOUR.

"Here's another coming," roared Bostock, hoarsely. "Back into shelter,
or we shall be swept away."

He set the example, still bearing the insensible boy, and the next
minute they had reached the comparative security of the saloon, where
the water was now washing to and fro, coming in with a rush and pouring
out again.

The first efforts of the two men were now directed towards carefully
placing Carey high and dry in an upper berth of one of the state-room
cabins, where a lamp was still burning steadily as it swung to and fro.

"Hasn't killed him, has it, sir?" growled Bostock, excitedly, as the
doctor examined his patient.

"No; he is breathing easily, and the bandages have not shifted," replied
the doctor, who then turned upon his companion in misfortune and said in
a hard, defiant way: "Well, my man, this seems hard luck; we're left in
the lurch. I suppose the captain will not come back to take us off."

"Come back and take us off, sir?" said the old sailor, with a bitter
laugh. "Not him. He's got his work cut out to keep that barge afloat.
Lord help 'em all, I say, all on 'em in those open boats. There they
are afloat among reefs and breakers in a storm like this. For aught we
know, sir, they're all capsized and washing about like so much chaff by
now."

"Then you think we're better off than they are?"

"No, I don't," growled the old man, sourly, as a wave came thundering
over the vessel, shaking it from bow to stern. "It won't be long before
one of them breakers'll make a way in and bust up part of the deck; and
after that it won't be long before she's ripped in pieces. Lor' a
mussy! the power of a thousand tons o' water going miles an hour's
awful. Shreds beams into matches, and twists ironwork like wire. It
only means a few minutes more to live, doctor; and, as you say, it do
seem hard. Poor boy!" he continued, laying his great rough hand
tenderly on Carey's breast. "All his young life before him, and nipped
off sudden like this."

"Poor boy, yes," said the doctor, gently. "But I'm thankful that he