them from taking necessary rest, and
being ready for the troubles of the day to come.

There was a tender embrace, a kiss, and Mark stole away once more to
return to his father, whom he found seated on a locker faint and
exhausted from his injury.

"It's a hard fight, Mark," he whispered hoarsely; "and I feel as weak as
man can feel. Don't let me go to sleep."

"Why not, father? I'll watch and call you if there is anything wrong."

"No, my boy," said the captain sadly. "I could not sleep, I believe,
after all, even if I tried. It was a momentary weakness."

"The captain awake?" said a deep harsh voice.

"Yes, Gregory, I'm awake," was the reply.

"Well, sir, I think we've done all we can. The lads are asleep; so is
Morgan. The major is on guard, and the men understand what to do if
they are roused. Now, sir, why don't you turn in?"

"No, Gregory; I'll keep watch too."

"Well, sir, we mustn't waste strength. If you and the major are going
to watch I'll turn in, for I'm dead beat. Hullo! what's that?"

There was a low whining sigh, and a faint bark answered the first-mate's
question.

"Oh, it's that dog again, eh? Well, sir, shall I turn in?"

"Yes, Gregory. We'll rouse you if there's anything wrong."

"All right!" said the mate; "but it's my opinion that we shall have no
fighting at present. They'll wait for wind and get us ashore in some
creek hidden among the mangroves, and there plunder the ship."

The mate went out, whispered a few words to the major, and then turned
in--a process which consisted in lying down on the cabin-floor, with a
revolver in his hand; while to the major, who was seated on a chest by
the barricaded door, with an unlighted cigar in his lips, it seemed as
if Gregory sighed softly and was then fast asleep.

Mark got up once or twice and went into the saloon, where all was still.
Then he walked to the window and looked out, to find that not a breath
of air had arisen, and that the mist was gathering more thickly over the
sea.

Going back to where his father was seated he too sat down; and then it
seemed to him that a dull oval sun rose out of the sea--a sun so dull
that its flattened oval shape suggested that it must have been squeezed
so as to get nearly all the light out of it. And there that sun stared
at him blankly, as if wondering to see him there; while he was as much
surprised to see the sun--and more surprised as his brain cleared and he
realised that he had