tely it was warm, so he did not suffer so much as he might
otherwise have done.

A half-hour passed, and Ralph was just congratulating himself that the
worst was over, when a cry came out of the gloom to his left.

He strained his eyes in the direction, and after a few moments caught sight
of an immense hay barge bearing down upon him. The hay barge had been towed
by a steam tug, but the rope had parted, and the barge was now drifting at
the mercy of the wind and current.

There was a man on the hay barge, thoroughly frightened, and it was he who
was crying for assistance.

"Hullo, there! What's the matter?" cried Ralph, as he steered clear of the
moving mass, for the hay barge was loaded to the water's edge.

"Help me!" cried the man. "I am all alone on this barge."

"Where is the tug?"

"I don't know. I fancy she struck on a rock, for we lost our reckoning, and
ran too close to shore."

"I don't see how I can help you," returned Ralph. "My boat won't budge that
big barge."

"Then take me on board, will you?" returned the man, with a shiver. "I
ain't used to being out in the wind and rain."

"Yes, I'll take you in. Wait till I run up behind."

As best he could, Ralph swung his own craft around, and came up under the
stern of the hay barge. The man ran from the side, and lowered himself onto
the bow seat.

"There! I'm all right now," he said, as he stumbled back to Ralph's side.
"What a beastly storm!" he went on.

"It is. What are you going to do about the barge?"

"I don't care what becomes of her," growled the man. "I was only a
passenger on the tug, and went on the barge for fun. Let the captain pick
her up as best he can."

"But you want to find the tug, don't you?" asked Ralph, in some surprise.

"Not if you will put me ashore. Where are you bound?"

"Westville."

"That will suit me first rate. Take me there, and I'll pay you the passage
money instead of the tug captain."

"I'll take you there without pay," said Ralph.

At that moment a steam whistle sounded close at hand, and presently they
beheld the steam tug, with the captain on the forward deck, gazing
anxiously ahead.

"There she is!" cried the man Ralph had picked up.

"We'll call to the captain, and let him know where his hay barge is,"
replied Ralph.

He accordingly hailed those on the steam tug. Soon the craft was close
beside him.

"Your barge is off in that direction," said Ralph, pointing with his hand.

"And I am here