was anxious to get fresh hands to keep the ship afloat.

"Is that little vessel yours?" asked Miss Marlow, pointing to the cutter
as she approached.

"Yes," said I. "I hope before long to take you on board her."

"That will be very nice; for dear papa and I want to leave this dreadful
ship. You will carry us home to Old England, will you!" she said.

"If the cutter makes us out, I hope to get you on shore this evening or
to-morrow," I replied. "But I am not quite certain that she sees us."

She had just then tacked, and was apparently standing away from us. I
watched her eagerly. Again she tacked, and I was certain she saw us. I
steered towards her, and now, the breeze freshening, we rapidly neared
each other. She stood on, and passing under our stern, kept alongside
of us.

"Hillo, D'Arcy, my boy, how did you get there?" hailed my uncle, as he
recognised me at the helm.

"Fell in with her, sir. Pray send some fresh hands, for we are sinking;
and some prog, for we are starving," I shouted, in return.

The cutter flew by us, and hove-to a short distance ahead. A boat was
lowered, and as we came up, she hooked on to our main-chains, and my
uncle stepped on board. I was thus speedily shorn of the honour of
command. As soon as I had introduced Mr Marlow and his daughter to
him, and given him a brief account of what had occurred, he invited them
on board the cutter, ordering me to take charge of them, and to send
Hanks with another boat's crew to assist in working the ship. He had
brought some provisions, which very soon restored my hungry people, and
enabled them to pull me and my charges on board the cutter, while the
fresh hands took their places at the pumps. Even when Miss Alice
discovered my unexalted position, she did not seem to esteem me the
less, for I had already, I rather fancy, established myself in her good
graces. I did my best to make her and her father comfortable in my
uncle's cabin; and Flitch, his steward, soon placed before them such a
breakfast as they had not seen for many a long day, to which I, at all
events, did not fail to do ample justice. The young lady appeared to
think that naval officers were very hungry mortals, as she saw
numberless slices of bacon and eggs disappear down my throat.

"We have no lady's maid on board to attend on you, Miss Marlow," said I,
as I got up to leave the cabin; "but Flitch will put your berth to
rights; and if you'll follow my advice, you'll