d yard,
composed of numerous pieces, had been rigged forward with a royal or
some other small sail set on it. The whole of the bulwarks on one side
were stove in; not a gun remained, the boats were gone. Many of the
crew lay about the deck exhausted with fatigue, and scarcely able to
raise themselves, and utter a faint cheer, as the frigate, now
shortening sail, approached, while the remainder were labouring hard at
the pumps; and by the gush of water flowing from the scuppers, it was
evident that they found it a hard matter to keep the ship afloat.

"Shorten sail, Commander Babbicome, and I'll send you assistance, for I
see you require it," shouted Captain Hemming, with a touch of irony in
his tone, as the frigate ranged up alongside.

A hawser had been got ready and passed aft; a long line secured to the
end was hove on board the corvette, and those who just before seemed
scarcely able to stand on their feet hauling on it with right good will;
the hawser was passed forward, and quickly secured. In the meantime two
boats had been lowered, and fifty fresh hands sent from the frigate
relieved the worn-out crew of the corvette. Adair had gone in charge of
the men, and Murray was the first person he greeted on deck.

"We had given you up for lost, but, thank Heaven, you are safe!"
exclaimed Terence, as he warmly wrung his friend's hand.

"It isn't the first time either that we've had cause to be frightened
about each other's safety; and for my part I intend in future, should
you or Jack disappear, never to despair of seeing you turn up again
alive somewhere or other."

"We have indeed been very mercifully preserved," answered Murray,
gravely. "But, my dear Adair, unless we take the greatest care, I very
much doubt that the ship can be kept afloat till we reach Port Royal."

And he briefly told Terence all that had occurred. There was but little
time, however, for conversation. While most of the fresh hands went to
the pumps the rest got up another sail, which, having been thrummed like
the first, was passed under the ship's bottom. The result was
satisfactory. Though the frigate was towing the corvette at the rate of
four knots an hour, instead of the leak increasing, as had been feared
would be the case, the pumps rapidly gained on it. Higson, with
additional hands, came on board; the hatches were taken off, and buckets
being brought into play, passed rapidly up from below by a line of men,
the depth of wa