aid the captain.

"'_Miaw_!' was the reply, so clear, so loud, we could not tell where it
came from. I thought it came from the maintop.

"'Mercy on us! what was that?' said the first mate, the light from the
binnacle showing his face as pale as a sheet.

"'_Miaw!_' was the reply from somewhere.

"'The black cat, by all that's blue!' cried the captain.

"'The Lord have mercy upon us, we're all gone!' said the mate, clasping
his hands in terror. To clasp his hands, of course he let go the wheel;
and the other man, who was equally frightened, had not strength to hold
it. Away he went, right over the wheel, knocking down the mate on the
other side; and the ship taking a heavy lurch, they both went into the
scuppers together. The ship broached-to, and our mainmast and mizzenmast
went over the side."

"Do top that glim, Bill," said one of the men, in a tremulous voice.

Dick paused while the snuff was taken off the candle: and the water went
tap, tap, tap against the bends, with a most melancholy sound. I really
did feel rather queer myself.

Dick continued. "Well, all hands were on deck immediately, and it was
good two hours before we could clear the wreck, for the men were
disheartened. They had heard the loud _miaw_ when in the fore-peak, and
declared that it was close to them; and the passenger and Jim came out,
frightened out of their wits. They had heard the _miaw_, and said that
it was from under the cabin table. At last we were clear of the wreck,
and the wind roared louder than ever.

"The captain was a stout-hearted fellow, and as the men were collected
together under the bulwark, he said, 'Well, this breeze will shorten our
distance, at any rate, and if it holds we shall soon be at Smyrna,'

"'We shall never see Smyrna!' replied the second mate, his teeth
chattering.

"'No, never!' cried the seamen.

"The captain sent Jim down for his rum-bottle, and gave every man a
stiff glass of liquor, and that made them feel more comfortable for a
time; when there was a sort of lull, and again the loud _miaw_ was
repeated.

"'There it is!' cried the men; but they hardly had time to say so when
the ship was pooped with a tremendous sea washing away the stern and
quarter-boats, and sending all the men swimming forward. So loaded was
the ship with water that she stopped, and appeared as if she was
settling down. At last she rolled heavy to port and discharged it, and
away we went before the wind, faster than ever