ly went aloft with their telescopes, in the hopes of catching
sight of the missing ship. As the day advanced the light increased, and
the wind gradually fell to a moderate breeze. The captain and Mr
Cherry, having been on deck during the whole night, had turned in, as
had all who could do so. Jack had charge of the watch, and Terence
remained with him.

"A lump of something floating away on the starboard bow," cried the
look-out from aloft.

Jack kept the ship towards it. In a short time the object seen was
discovered to be a tangled mass of spars and rigging, evidently
belonging to the corvette. As the frigate passed close to it the figure
of a seaman was perceived in its midst floating, partly in the water and
partly supported by a spar, with his face turned upwards, as if gazing
at her. Several on board shouted, but no voice replied, no sign was
made. Jack, notwithstanding, was about to shorten sail and heave the
ship to, that a boat might be lowered to rescue the man, when the
corpse--for such it was--turned slowly round and disappeared beneath the
waves.

"There goes poor Bill Dawson. He was captain of the main-top aboard the
_Tudor_," observed one of the men. "I knowed him well, and a better
fellow never stepped!"

Jack's heart sank as he saw the wreck of the corvette's masts.

"Surely they could not have floated to any distance from her, and as she
is not in sight she must have gone down," he thought.

The sea was still too rough to attempt taking any of the spars on board,
so the frigate stood on as the captain had directed. Ten minutes or
more passed by, when again the look-out hailed the deck in a cheery
voice,--"A sail on the port bow!"

The announcement raised the spirits of every one. Terence hurried
aloft, and a midshipman was sent to call the captain, who quickly
appeared.

"I thought so," he exclaimed. "Depend on it, that is the _Tudor_."

Some time passed before Terence returned on deck. His report confirmed
the captain's opinion. He could clearly make out the hull with a small
sail set forward. The last reef was shaken out of the topsails, the
starboard studding-sails were set, and the frigate dashed after the
corvette. The news spread below, the sleepers were awakened, and all
hands turned out. The frigate speedily came up with the lately trim
little ship, now reduced to a mere battered hulk. From her appearance
it was surprising that she should be still afloat. A mast an