try after try, the boat remained stubbornly bottom
upward, and at last, worn out by their exertions, all ceased their
efforts, and rested half on the keel which offered a tempting halting
place for those who liked to climb upon it, and sit astride.

Just then Dance the coxswain made his way to Mark, and without a word
seized the wrist of the black, and in a low growl bade the young officer
rest.

"Soon as you can, my lad," he whispered, "reach down and get hold of one
of the rudder-lines. I'll make him fast to that."

"But his head--it must be kept above water," whispered back Mark in a
choking voice, for he felt hysterical and strange.

"What for, my lad?" said the coxswain. "It can do no good. Half a
million o' doctors couldn't save his life. He was done for when they
pitched him in, and I should like to have my will o' them as done it.
Precious little marcy they'd get out o' me."

"Come along here, Mr Vandean," cried the lieutenant from the bow end of
the boat; and Mark shudderingly left the coxswain making fast the wrist
of the dead black to one of the rudder-lines, and joined his brother
officer, easily passing from one to the other of the men as they half
lay on the bottom, resting and clinging by one hand to the keel.

"Cheer up, my lad!" said the lieutenant. "There's nothing to mind. The
sea couldn't be smoother, and we can hold on like this for any length of
time. The captain is sure to come back soon to pick us up."

Mark made no answer, but crept into as secure a place as he could beside
his officer, gazed away at the dimly-seen vessels, and listened to the
dull report of gun after gun.

"Well, you are very quiet," said the lieutenant after a long pause.
"Why don't you speak?"

"I have only one thing to say," replied Mark, "and I did not like to say
that."

"Why not? What is it?"

"I wanted to know whether they would ever find us again."

"Find us? Yes, of course," cried the lieutenant. "They must find us.
There, it's all right. Never despair. No fear of our being washed off,
and we've nothing else to mind."

"Sharks?" said Mark, involuntarily.

"Hush!" whispered the lieutenant, fiercely. And then with his lips to
the lad's ear he said, "Never utter a word likely to damp your men's
courage at a time like this. Do your duty and hope for the best. Trust
in God for the help to come, my lad. That's how a sailor should act."

"I'll try, Mr Russell," whispered back Mark, with a cu