n to blow harder and harder. I had
returned aloft, when, to my delight, I saw the stranger again bear away
and stand for us. I shouted out the joyful information, and once more
the drooping spirits of my companions in misfortune were aroused. The
sound of a gun was heard booming along the waters. It was a sign from
her that she saw our signal of distress. Now she crowded all the sail
she could venture to carry in the increasing breeze. Her captain was
evidently a humane man anxious to relieve his fellow-creatures, though
he could scarcely have guessed at our frightful condition. There was no
mistake now, and on she came, and proved to be a large barque, as Mr
Bell had supposed.

"We have a good chance of escaping a roasting this time," I observed to
Derrick, as we watched the stranger.

"But not quite of drowning, lad," he answered. "Before one quarter of
the people about us can placed on her deck, the gale will be upon us,
and then as I said before, how are we the better for her being near us?
Howsomdever, we'll do our best, lad; and if the old ship goes down, mind
you look out for a plank to stick to, and don't let any one gripe hold
of your legs."

I promised to do my best; but I confess I did not like the prospect he
held out.

The barque approached and hove to. A shout of joy escaped from the lips
of most of those on board, who had still strength to utter it. On this,
immediately Captain Swales cast off his boat, his example being followed
by the others; and without attempting to take any of the people out of
the ship, he pulled on board the stranger. There was little time to
lose; for scarcely had they got alongside than down came the gale upon
us.

In the condition our ship was, the only course was to run before the
wind; so we once again kept away. The stranger soon followed; and as
she carried more sail than we could, we saw she would soon pass us.
Hope once more deserted us; for it was possible that the master, finding
that there were so many of us on board, might think himself justified,
for the safety of his own people, to leave us to our fate. I confess
that on this I regretted that I had not gone off with Silas Flint on the
raft; but then I remembered that I had done my duty in sticking to my
ship to the last. It seemed dreadful, indeed, to be thus left to
perish. However, just as the stranger was about to pass us, a man in
the rigging held up a board on which was written the cheering