alone on
the shattered wreck, for the groans of my companions still alive showed
that they were desperately wounded; or perhaps my doom was already
fixed, and my hours were drawing to a close. I could scarcely bear to
hear those sounds of pain, yet I dared not move to render assistance. I
waited for some time, and then I slowly turned round my head, and
ventured to look if the vessel could be seen from where I lay. She was
not visible, so I crawled to a port through which I could see her about
a mile off, standing away to the eastward. I now felt that, provided no
one showed their heads above the bulwarks, we should be safe. A cask of
water stood on the deck for daily use. I crawled to it, and swallowed
some of the precious fluid, which much revived me. I never tasted a
more delicious draught in my life. I took the tin cup, and crawled to
the nearest person who appeared to be alive. It was the captain. He
was groaning heavily, "Here's a cup of water, sir," I said; "it will do
you good. The pirates are off, and I do not think they are coming back
again."

At first he did not seem to understand me; then he took the mug of
water, and drained it to the bottom.

"What, gone, are they?" he at length exclaimed. "Ah, lad, is that you?
Well, what has happened? Oh! I know. Help me up, and we'll see about
it."

I did my best, hurt as I was, to raise him up. In a short time he very
much recovered. Both he and I, it appeared, had been knocked over by
the wind of a round shot, and had been rather stunned than seriously
hurt.

The captain, as he lay on the deck, bound up my wound for me with a
kindness I did not expect from him. As soon as he was somewhat
recovered, he told me to come with him and examine into the state of
affairs. Many of the crew lay stiff and stark on deck--their last fight
over. We carried the water to the few who remained alive, and very
grateful they were for it. Among the killed was the first mate; but
poor Charley I did not see. I observed another man moving forward. I
crawled up to him. He was Edward Seton. I gave him the mug of water.
He thanked me gratefully.

"I'm afraid that I am in a bad way, Weatherhelm," said he; "but see what
you can do for me, and I'll try and get about and help the captain: tell
him."

Under his directions I bound up his wounds as well as I could, and in a
little time he began to crawl about, though it seemed to give him great
pain to do so. On loo