rowed, and a whispered conversation went on between the three
heads of the little party.

"Couldn't be better, gentlemen," said the major. "Here we have half the
enemy's forces gone ashore, and the other half not expecting us; that's
clear, or else they wouldn't have sent that expedition to surprise us.
What do you mane to do?"

"Get close up under the cabin-window," said Mr Gregory, "if we can find
the ship. If we can lay the boat right under the stern we shall be
safer from those on deck, for they could not see us."

"Yes," said the major gazing over the sea; "but, my dear sir, we must
find the ship first before we can get to her stern."

"Is there no light?" said Morgan at last, after they had been rowing
softly about for quite a quarter of an hour.

"No, not a spark," whispered Mr Gregory. "I've tried to keep in the
course by which the prau came when it passed us, but the darkness is so
deceptive that we might as well be blind."

Another ten minutes or so were passed and still they could not make out
the tall spars and huge hull of the ship, while a feeling of despair
began to come over Mark as he asked himself whether he should ever look
upon those he loved again. He had never before realised the vastness of
the ocean and how easy it was to go astray and be lost, for as minute by
minute glided away, the search for the great ship became more hopeless,
and the darkness that was over the sea began to settle down upon the
young adventurer's heart.

"I'm about done, major," whispered Mr Gregory. "We're just as likely
to be going right away from her as to her."

"A current must be setting strongly now at the change of tide," said
Morgan. "We shall have to wait for day."

"And throw away our chance of doing some good!" said Mr Gregory
pettishly. "Here you, Mark Strong, this dog of yours seems as if he
could do anything. Do you think if we put him in the water he'd swim
toward the ship?"

"If I let him go into the water he would begin to bark loudly,"
whispered Mark.

"Ah! and do more harm than good," said the major. "Now, look here,
gentlemen: my wife and daughter are on board that ship, and we've got to
find her, so let's have no talk of giving up, if you please."

"Give up, major!" said the first-mate with an angry growl; "don't you
run away with that idea. I'm not going to give up."

There was so much decision in Mr Gregory's tone and words that Mark's
heart grew light again, and the horrible