ill probably go down in another two or three
minutes; and I think it doubtful in the extreme whether any one of us
will survive to tell the tale!"

"O God!" she gasped. "My father--I am his only child--and this will
kill him! Well, if it _must_ be so, God's will be done!"

Not a word about herself, no outcry of natural fear at the near approach
of the King of Terrors! It was of her father, and the heart-breaking
sorrow that he would feel at her loss, that she thought at this dread
moment! As this idea presented itself to me a world of admiration for
such marvellous courage and unselfishness leapt into being within me,
and, turning to her, I grasped the hand that still unconsciously rested
upon my arm, and said:

"Miss Onslow, I have no hope to offer you; but if you are willing to
trust yourself to me I will do my utmost to save you. At the worst we
shall be no worse off than we are now."

"I _will_ trust you," she said simply. "I will do whatever you tell
me!"

There was no time to lose, for I could tell, by the feel of the ship,
that her course was all but run; so, taking my companion by the hand, I
led her right aft to the wheel grating, which we both mounted; and then
I peered over the stern at the black water. Merciful Heaven, how near
it was! it looked as though one could lean over the rail and dabble
one's hand in it. But it was clear; there was no wreckage or anything
else--so far as I could see--to hurt us, should we leap. A lifebuoy was
hanging over the taffrail, suspended by a stout lanyard; and this buoy I
hurriedly cut adrift, passing it over Miss Onslow's shoulders and up
under her armpits. Then, having thus equipped her, I assisted her to
mount the rail, and at once sprang up beside her, taking her hand in
mine as I did so.

"Now, are you ready?" I asked.

"Quite!" she answered, as steadily as though I had been about to assist
her to step ashore, instead of urging her to leap overboard in the
middle of the South Atlantic, on a dark and windy night, with scarcely a
hope that she would survive to see the next morning.

"Then jump!" I said; and at the word we both leapt together.

CHAPTER FIVE.

THE CITY OF CAWNPORE'S QUARTER BOAT.

The height of the poop rail from the surface of the water had by this
time grown so insignificant, by reason of the depth to which the hull of
the ship had become immersed, that upon striking the water I only
descended about a foot below the surface,