nd sunk below the waves. The other
two men sickened. First one, then the other died. The captain, though
the oldest of all, kept his senses and his strength. He was a calm,
even-tempered, abstemious man. Still, as he sat on the chest in the
middle of the raft, of which he and I were the only occupants, he spoke
encouragingly and hopefully to me. I listened, but could scarcely
reply. I felt a sickness overcoming me. I thought death was
approaching. I sank down at his feet with a total unconsciousness of my
miserable condition.

CHAPTER FIVE.

AGAIN PRESERVED--CHARLEY'S ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF--A NIGHT AT SEA--THE WEST
INDIES--A HURRICANE--SHIP ON FIRE--AGAIN ON A RAFT--LOOK OUT FOR HELP--
THE HAPPY RELIEF--THE BREAKING OUT OF WAR--PURSUED--ENDEAVOUR TO
ESCAPE--CAPTURED BY FRIENDS--THE MAN-OF-WAR--OUR MATE PRESSED--DUTY ON
BOARD--MR. MERTON'S GALLANTRY--OLD ENGLAND AT LAST--A BITTER
DISAPPOINTMENT--FRIENDS GONE--MISS RUNDLE--SHE TELLS ME WHAT HAS BECOME
OF AUNT BRETTA--VISIT MY GRANDMOTHER'S GRAVE.

My last thoughts had been, before I lost all consciousness, that death
was about to put an end to my sufferings. I remember then hearing a
rush of waters--a confused sound--rattling of blocks--human voices--
cries and shrieks. I looked up--it was night. A dark object was
lowering above my head. I fancied it was a huge black rock, and that it
was going to fall down and crush me. "To what strange shore have we
drifted?" I thought. I cried out with terror. "Never fear, my lad,"
said a voice. "It's all right." I found myself gently lifted up in the
arms of a person, and when I next opened my eyes, I discovered that I
was on the deck of a large ship and several people standing round me.
The light of a lantern fell on the face of one of them. I looked hard
at the person. Was it only fancy? I was certain that it was the
countenance of Charley Iffley. I pronounced his name. He had not
before recognised me.

"Why, Will Weatherhelm, how did you come out here?" he exclaimed, in a
tone of surprise. But a gentleman, whom I found to be doctor, told him
that he must not now talk to me, and that he would find out all about it
by and by.

I was then carried below, and placed in a berth, and very kindly
treated. In a few days I was sufficiently recovered to go on deck. I
was glad to see old Captain Stunt there also, looking well and fresh. I
found that we were on board a large West India trader, the _Montezuma_,