he other two.

"Stand still a while; we shall soon see whether his head is yet above
water."

Harry and Terence consented to the proposal of their comrade, but
without exactly comprehending its import.

"What do you mean, Colly?" asked the impatient Hibernian.

"To see if the tide's still rising," was the explanation given by the
Scotch youth.

"And what if it be?" demanded Terence.

"Only, that if it be, we will never more see the old sailor in the land
of the living. We may look for his lifeless corpse after it has been
washed ashore."

"Ah! I comprehend you," said Terence.

"You're right," added Harry. "If the tide be still rising, Old Bill is
under it by this time. I dare say his body will drift ashore before
morning."

They stood still, all three of them. They watched the water, as it
rippled up against their limbs, taking note of its ebbing and flowing.
They watched with eyes full of anxious solicitude. They continued this
curious vigil for full twenty minutes. They would have patiently
prolonged it still further had it been necessary. But it was not. No
further observation was required, to convince them that the tidal
current was still carried towards the shore; and that the water was yet
deepening around them.

The data thus obtained were sufficient to guide them to the solution of
the sad problem. During that interval, while they were swimming and
wading across the bay, the tide must have been continually on the
increase. It must have risen at least a yard. A foot would be
sufficient to have submerged the sailor, since he could not swim. There
was but one conclusion to which they could come. Their companion must
have been drowned.

With heavy hearts they turned their faces towards the shore, thinking
more of the sad fate of the sailor than their own future.

Scarce had they proceeded a dozen steps when a shout heard from behind
caused them to come to a sudden stop.

"Avast there!" cried a voice that seemed to rise from out of the depths
of the sea.

"It's Bill!" exclaimed all three in the same breath.

"'Old on, my hearties, if that's yerselves that I see!" continued the
voice. "Arrah, 'old on there. I'm so tired wadin', I want a short
spell to rest myself. Wait now, and I'll come to yez as soon as I can
take a reef out of my tops'ls."

The joy caused by this greeting, great as it was, was scarce equal to
the surprise it inspired. They who heard it were for some seconds