y broke, a sound fell upon their ears that caused a commotion among
them--to all giving joy. It came swelling over the dark surface of the
deep, louder than the rush of the water or the whistling of the wind.
It resembled a human voice; and although like one speaking in agony,
they heard it with joy. There was hope in the proximity of human
beings, for though these might be in trouble like themselves, they could
not be in so bad a state. They might be in danger from the storm; but
they would be strong and healthy--not thirsting skeletons like the
occupants of the pinnace.

"What do you think it is, captin?" asked the Irishman. "Moight it be
some ship in disthriss?"

Before the captain could reply, the sound came a second time over the
waters, with a prolonged wail, like the cry of a suffering sinner on his
death-bed.

"The _dugong_!" exclaimed Saloo, this time recognising the melancholy
note, so like to the voice of a human being.

"It is," rejoined Captain Redwood. "It's that, and nothing more."

He said this in a despairing tone, for the dugong, which is the
_manatee_, or sea-cow of the Eastern seas, could be of no service to
them; on the contrary, its loud wailings spoke of danger--these being
the sure precursors of a storm. [Note 1.]

To him and Murtagh, the presence of this strange cetaceous animal gave
no relief; and, after hearing its call, they sank back to their seats,
relapsing into the state of half despondency, half hopefulness, from
which it had startled them.

Not so with Saloo, who better understood its habits. He knew they were
amphibious, and that, where the dugong was found, land could not be a
long way off. He said this, once more arousing his companions by his
words to renewed expectancy.

The morning soon after broke, and they beheld boldly outlined against
the fast-clearing sky the blue mountains of Borneo.

"Land!" was the cry that came simultaneously from their lips.

"Land--thank the Lord!" continued the American skipper, in a tone of
pious gratitude; and as his pinnace, still obedient to the breeze and
spread tarpaulin, forged on toward it, he once more knelt down in the
bottom of the boat, caused his children to do the same, and offered up a
prayer--a fervent thanksgiving to the God alike of land and sea, who was
about to deliver him and his from the "dangers of the deep."

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Note 1. We are unwilling