rved old Barker. "You will not get her off so."

I soon saw, by the manner the brig lay over, that Barker was right; but
without sounding round her, it was impossible to judge properly what to
do. I suggested that this was the first thing to be done. "Give your
advice when it is asked, Mr Crawford," said Kydd, walking up and down
the deck. "Be smart there with the boats!"

While he was speaking, another wave came rolling in and struck the
vessel with greater force than the former one, breaking over the fore
part of the deck.

"We must get the boats over to the starboard side," said Barker (the
vessel's head was to the north). "They will be stove in if we attempt
to lower them on the outer side."

"What are you afraid of, man?" exclaimed Kydd. "Why, the sea is as
smooth as a mill-pond between these rollers. Am I to be obeyed, or am I
not? Here, lower this boat first. We will have her round on the other
side before the next roller comes in."

Several of the men hastened to obey him. The boat was cleared, and two
of the crew jumping into her, she was lowered. Just, however, as she
reached the water, before the others could follow, another far heavier
roller came gliding towards us. "In board for your lives, lads!" I
cried out, but the men either did not hear me or despised the warning.
The wave struck the boat and dashed it with tremendous force against the
counter, sweeping them off towards the shore. They held out their hands
imploring assistance.

"If we get the starboard-quarter boat lowered we shall be in time to
save them, Mr Kydd," I said; and without waiting for his reply, Barker
and I, with Jack Handspike, assisted by some of the gentlemen, lowered
the boat. Scarcely, however, had we seized the oars, when we heard a
loud shriek, and one of the poor fellows disappeared beneath the
surface. A shark had taken him. The other, who was at a little
distance, saw his companion's fate, and cried out to us to make haste.
We pulled away as hard as we could lay our backs to the oars, old Barker
steering. But just before we reached the man, his arms were thrown up,
and down he sank. He, too, had become the prey of one of the rapacious
monsters of the deep. We now returned on board, the boat remaining
perfectly quit on the starboard side. No attempt had been made in the
meantime to sound round the vessel. I offered to do it.

"I have made up my mind to haul her off astern," answered Kydd. "We
will