suffering from the dreadful air
that they had been forced to breathe. They were a terrible crowd to
gaze upon. Men, women, and children, all herded together like cattle,
and flinching away whenever a sailor went near, as if expecting a blow.

There were nearly a hundred when all were on deck, and the first thing
done was to distribute food and water. The next, to arrange about their
being rowed on board the _Nautilus_, while the schooner was burned.

"And the best thing too," said the doctor. "Faugh! the vessel's
loathsome. Nothing like fire for purifying."

"But we have to try first if we can get her off," said the lieutenant.

"Then all I can say is I hope you will not," said the doctor.

"But if we get her off," said Mark, smiling, "it means that the slaves
will stay on board here."

"Eh? Does it? Oh, well then, I hope you will," cried the doctor.
"Now, Russell, have me rowed back. That fellow's badly wounded, but
he'll soon get well."

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

MARK'S REST IS DISTURBED.

The boat started back with the doctor, while the other took out an
anchor right astern, the capstan was rigged, a good strain got upon the
cable, and after a great deal of tugging with the handspikes the men
gave a hearty cheer and began to strain harder, for the tide had risen a
little, and the schooner gradually glided off into deeper water.

An answering cheer came back from the _Nautilus_, and a signal was
hoisted, which Mr Russell read to mean, "Well done!"

Five minutes after they were lying at anchor, and Tom Fillot took the
opportunity of passing to whisper to Mark,--

"We did tug at them bars, sir. It means no end o' prize-money--the
saving of a smart craft like this; but, beg pardon, sir, ain't we going
to have a bit of a wash and swab?"

"More signals, sir," cried Bob, who was watching the _Nautilus_ and the
flags being run up.

"Yes, I see," said the lieutenant. "Take the boat, Mr Howlett, and ask
for stores to be sent on board here. We are to remain."

Bob looked disappointed, and then pleased.

"You're in for it, Van," he whispered, as they walked to the gangway.
"I say, shall I send you a bottle of eau-de-cologne with the stores?"

Mark made a gesture as if to kick him, but Bob dropped down into the
boat, was rowed off, and in due time the supplies arrived.

"Not quite the sort of duty we expected, Vandean," said the lieutenant,
"but we must take the rough with the smooth, I suppose."