tle astonished at the boy's re-appearance, having heard
the shot which wounded Ralph, and having given both lad and yawl up for
lost.

"Well now," remarked Ralph, on the conclusion of the story, "what are
we to do?"

"When the sun gets well up, we will take an observation and make a
reckoning. Then we'll lay our course for the nearest land. Perhaps we
may be picked up--perhaps we won't be. Whatever happens we will make
the grub and water go as far as possible, keep a stiff lip, and trust
to Providence."

While speaking Duff drew forth from the bundle of bedding he had thrown
out, a leather bag. From this he produced a compass and a sextant.

"Now, lad," said he, "let us enlarge this here sail a bit, and get
ready to do some traveling when the breeze comes."

For an hour or two both man and boy worked until they had the yawl in
as good trim as possible. Then the mate took an observation by the
sun, cast a reckoning, and informed Ralph that as far as his knowledge
of geography would serve, they were some two hundred miles from the
Cape Verdes.

"We have a fair wind, Ralph, so square away west by nor'west, and leave
this bloody slaver to her fate. I'm sorry for those niggers, for bad
as they treated us, we got 'em in the fix they're in. If we speak a
vessel we can go back."

"Mebbe they won't want to," suggested Ralph.

"Salvage," returned Duff briefly. "There's money in it, you see. Men
will do about anything for money enough."

For the next two days they kept their course and took turn about in
sailing. As the last glimpse of the slaver faded into nothingness,
both felt relieved. They nursed their wounds and endured their
sufferings and privations as best they could.

The third day sundry signs betokening a storm lent an anxious
expression to Duff's face, that soon transferred itself to Ralph's.

The wind stiffened gradually into half a gale and night closed in,
around an ominous and threatening horizon. Though worn and wearied,
the mate never gave up the tiller all during that black and perilous
siege of darkness.

Ralph bailed and held the main sheet. When the squalls came he
slackened up or drew in around the cleat as became necessary.

The scene was intensely depressing, hopeless, terrible. Hardly a word
was spoken save in reference to the management of the boat.

Morning found them greatly exhausted and barely able to keep their
small craft from broaching to. Had this happened they w