t the men rest on their oars."

Unknown to the two midshipmen, they had for the last hour and a half
been in the grip of the strong west-going tide that surges along the
French coast. In that interval they had been carried out of the course
of the vessels they had sighted, and were some four or six miles from
the spot where the _Orontabella_ had sunk.

Another hour passed. The men who had been in the water took the
opportunity of drying their clothing in the hot sunshine. They treated
their misfortune lightly, making very little reference to the loss of
their vessel. One would have thought that being torpedoed was almost
an everyday occurrence.

As the minutes slipped by, it began to occur to Ross and his chum that
the _Capella_ had missed them entirely. In another few hours night
would be coming on, and the prospect of spending ten hours of darkness
in a couple of open boats in mid-Channel was not at all alluring.

Each boat was equipped with compass, lead-line, signal-book, lamp, box
of biscuits, and beaker of water. None of these articles belonging to
Ross's boat had suffered, in spite of their being immersed, except the
lamp, for the provisions were in watertight boxes. Masts and sails
were not in the boats, having been left on board the _Capella_ when the
rescuers put off hurriedly on their errand of mercy.

"What's the best thing to be done, skipper?" asked Ross, addressing the
master of the _Orontabella_.

"Well, sir, since you ask me," was the reply, "I'd shape a course due
north. We'd be in the track of craft making up and down Channel before
it gets dark. If we don't fall in with any vessel, we can carry on.
'Taint so very far to land, considering the number of hands we've got
in the boats."

Quickly the available oars were manned, the men being told off in
relays to row for half an hour at a time, while the skipper of the
torpedoed boat relieved Ross at the yoke-lines. The mate, who had been
picked up by the other boat, was also able to give Vernon a spell.

At six o'clock, a biscuit and a small quantity of water were served out
to each man, and preparations were made for the approaching night.
Vernon's boat, which possessed the only lantern that would burn, was to
take the lead as soon as darkness set in, the light enabling the whaler
to keep in touch with her consort.

"Jolly funny where the _Capella's_ got to," remarked Ross to the
skipper. "With her speed she could search a couple of