n the water. "I don't want to
resk having one of ye on deck. Your supper'll be brought to you when
it's ready, so there won't be no occasion to stir out of your bunks
before morning."

The skipper so evidently meant what he said that the boys saw it would
be useless to argue with him. Moreover they were too shocked by what had
happened, and too heavy-hearted for the attempt. So they silently and
sadly went below, and Captain Crotty followed them to see that his
orders were obeyed to the letter. Not until every Ranger had deposited a
little heap of wet clothing on the floor, and crawled in between the
blankets of his bunk, did the skipper leave them. Then he returned to
the deck for a soothing pipe-smoke and a quiet consideration of the
situation. He had hardly got his old black brier-wood well alight before
it dropped unheeded from his mouth, while the man stood pale and
nervous, as though he had seen a ghost. Of course he had not; but he
thought he heard one, which was almost the same thing. From somewhere,
though he could not at first locate it, a voice was calling, and it
sounded like that of the boy whom all on board were mourning as dead.

"Help! help! Will! Hal! help!" This cry had been repeated over and over
again for some minutes; but, owing to the confusion on board, and the
noise made by the boys, it had not been heard until now.

The skipper glanced along the deck, cast an eye aloft, and then over
both sides of the vessel into the darkening waters. No one was to be
seen, and the strong man began to tremble with superstitious fear. He
made his way forward and peered over the bows, but saw nothing nor heard
any thing, save the ripple of the current against the anchor chain.
Walking aft he again heard the voice, and, as he leaned over the stern,
it seemed to come from directly beneath him. It sounded so close that he
instinctively started back.

The small boat had all this time been kept alongside where young Jabe
had fastened it. Now hastening to it, filled with hope and dread, and at
the same time almost beside himself with excitement, the skipper dropped
astern, where he could look under the overhanging counter. There, from
out the dark shadow where swung the ponderous rudder, a white face
peered at him, and a weak voice uttered an exclamation of thankfulness.

Two minutes later Captain Crotty descended the companion-ladder and
entered the sloop's hold. In his arms he bore the dripping, shivering,
barehe