nd the first mate
stood close to the binnacle, "if I only knew our exact position. But
we've not had an observation for several days, and I don't feel sure of
our whereabouts. There are some nasty coral reefs in these seas. Did
you find out who the poor fellow is yet?"

"It's young Boswell, I fear, Mr Markham is mustering the men just now,
sir."

As he spoke, the second mate came aft and confirmed their fears. The
man who had thus been summoned in a moment, without warning, into the
presence of his Maker, had been a quiet, modest youth, and a favourite
with every one on board. At any other time his death would have been
deeply felt; but in the midst of that terrible storm the men had no time
to think. Indeed, they could not realise the fact that their shipmate
was really gone.

"Mr Markham," said the captain, as the second mate turned away, "send a
hand in to the chains to heave the lead. I don't feel at all easy in my
mind, so near these shoals as we must be just now."

While the order was being obeyed the storm became fiercer and more
furious. Bright gleams of lightning flashed repeatedly across the sky,
lighting up the scene as if with brightest moonlight, and revealing the
horrid turmoil of the raging sea in which the ship now laboured heavily.
The rapidity with which the thunder followed the lightning showed how
near to them was the dangerous and subtle fluid; and the crashing,
bursting reports that shook the ship from stem to stern gave the
impression that mountains were being dashed to atoms against each other
in the air.

All the sails still exposed to the fury of the gale were blown to
shreds; the foretopmast and the jib-boom were carried away along with
them and the _Red Eric_ was driven at last before the wind under bare
poles. The crew remained firm in the midst of this awful scene; each
man stood at his post, holding on by any fixed object that chanced to be
within his reach, and held himself ready to spring to obey every order.
No voice could be heard in the midst of the howling winds, the lashing
sea, and the rending sky. Commands were given by signs as well as
possible, during the flashes of lightning; but little or nothing
remained to be done. Captain Dunning had done all that a man thoroughly
acquainted with his duties could accomplish to put his ship in the best
condition to do battle with the storm, and he now felt that the issue
remained in the hands of Him who formed the warring el