'Tween decks the air was full of smoke. He could hear
Shrap's insistent bark, and Vernon's voice as, amidst fits of coughing,
he called to his canine companion.

"Whatever is the matter with the brute?" thought Ross, as he fought his
way along the half-deck.

A gaping hole in the ship's side admitted sufficient light to enable
him to discern his comrade backing from one of the cabins. Shrap was
preceding him, while Vernon was dragging something limp and heavy. It
was the body of the luckless A. P.

Without a word, for the atmosphere was hot and choky, Ross bore a hand.
Stumbling and slipping, the two lads bore their burden to the
companion, and by dint of much exertion carried Jolly on deck.

"Is he dead?" asked Ross, after he had refilled his lungs with less
smoke-laden air.

"I don't think so," said Vernon. "It was good old Shrap that found
him."

The A. P. was below when the salvo from the German cruiser struck the
ship. He had gone to the cabin temporarily allotted to him to obtain
some small but cherished belonging. A fragment from one of the shells
had inflicted a nasty scalp wound, stretching him senseless upon the
floor.

Had it not been for the sheep-dog, whose sagacity made him recognize
that Jolly was a friend of his master's, the A. P. would have ended his
career in the burning hull of the _Hunbilker_.

"Hurry up!" exclaimed Ross. "Let's get him aboard the destroyer."

Between them they carried the insensible officer across the
quarter-deck, but as they reached the side abreast the wreckage of the
superstructure they came to an abrupt halt.

The destroyer had sheered off and was out of sight.

"Now what's to be done?" asked Vernon, aghast at the latest turn of
fortune.

They laid the A. P. on the deck and looked over the side. Still made
fast to the falls was a whaler, with her keel ten feet above water.
When the order had been given to abandon ship, the boat had been
lowered, but the appearance of the destroyer had done away with the
necessity of having to make use of her.

"Lower away!" ordered Ross.

Checking the descent by taking a turn round the cleats, the lads
allowed the whaler to reach the water. To their satisfaction they
found that she leaked but very little. Oars and crutches were already
on board, together with mast and sail.

"Down you get," said Ross. "Let go the after disengaging gear, then
stand by. I'll let Jolly down to you."

Vernon quickly swarmed down t