. Don't--don't speak! I want to see. Oh, if I only had a
glass. Mine's below."

"Can you see them now?" said Russell, in a faint whisper.

"No, no, this is dreadful," groaned Mark; "they are so far-off, but I
can see the boat. Yes, they are pulling hard now. No; they have ceased
rowing, and two men are standing up now, and--too late--too late."

"Hurray!" came faintly from the distance, where the shades of the
fast-falling tropical night had rendered the boat nearly invisible. The
cheer was echoed from on board with a tremendous shout, as the distant
cry rose again.

"There, they have saved them, Mr Russell," cried Mark excitedly.

"Hah!" came in a low, deep sigh, as the lieutenant's legs gave way
beneath him, and he would have fallen if it had not been for the sudden
action of Mark, who held the poor fellow's arms pressed down over the
rail as he called for help.

"What is it?" cried a firm voice from close at hand, and the captain
strode up. "Ah! Mr Russell fainting. Let him go, Mr Vandean. I'll
drop him into this seat."

The captain dragged a cane reclining-chair forward, and lowered the
feeble man gently down.

"There, he will soon come to," said the captain. "He is too weak to be
on deck."

"The sight of the men drowning upset him, sir."

"Of course, Mr Vandean. It nearly upset me, who have not been ill.
Not a pleasant sight to see our fellow-creatures losing their lives, and
not to be able to help them. Come, Russell, man, this will not do."

The lieutenant looked up at him wonderingly, as he unclosed his eyes.

"Are they saved!" he said, faintly.

"Thank God! Yes," replied the captain; and just then a fresh cheer
arose from the cutter, which was being pulled steadily back; the cheer
was answered, and soon after the boat hung from the davits, and Bob
cried up excitedly to Mark,--"I say, I saved him this time, old chap."

Then followed a few stern words from the captain, strictly forbidding
further fishing except by the older and more experienced hands.

Turning to the first lieutenant, he said in Mark's hearing,--"Now comes
the difficulty. How am I to punish this black for the knife business?
He cannot understand a word that is said."

"No; it is difficult," replied the first lieutenant; "but it cannot be
passed over."

"The man evidently meant to escape, but repented on seeing a
fellow-creature drowning, and saved his life. Well, that's a good trait
in his character, Staples.