n despair, as she tried to see the
speaker, whom darkness rendered almost invisible. "An unbeknown island,
uninhabited by nobody. Boys, we are done for intirely. Didn't I say
this would be the end of it, when we made up our minds to go to say?"

No one seemed inclined just then to dispute the prophetic reminiscences
of the widow, for the order had been given to get ready one of the
boats. Turning to the emigrants, who were now clustering on the fore
part of the vessel, Malines, condescending to adopt a more respectful
tone, addressed them as follows:--

"Now, let me tell you, one and all, that your voyage has come to an end
sooner than I expected. Our ship is wrecked, but we're out of danger,
and must go ashore an' live as best we can, or die if we can't live.
Where we are, I don't know, and don't care, for it don't much matter.
It's an island, it seems, and three people who have been wrecked before
us are all its population. As it is too dark to go ashore comfortably
to-night, I would advise you to go below again, an' turn in till
daylight. You may make your minds easy, for there's no fear of our
going to the bottom _now_."

"Sure, an' you're right there," murmured Teddy Malone, "for aren't we at
the bottom already?"

"You may all do as you please, however," continued the mate, after a
low-toned remark from one of the crew, "for my command has come to an
end with the loss of the ship."

When the mate ceased speaking, there was a brief pause, for the
unfortunate emigrants had been so long accustomed to conform to the
strict discipline of the ship that they felt like sheep suddenly
deprived of a shepherd, or soldiers bereft of their officers when thus
left to think for themselves. Then the self-sufficient and officious
among them began to give advice, and to dispute noisily as to what they
should do, so that in a few minutes their voices, mingling with the gale
and the cries of terrified children, caused such a din that the strong
spirit of the widow Lynch was stirred within her, inducing her to raise
her masculine voice in a shout that silenced nearly all the rest.

"That's right, mother," cried young Malone, "howld yer tongues, boys,
and let's hear what the widdy has to say. Isn't it herself has got the
great mind--not to mintion the body?"

"Shut your murphy-trap, Teddy," retorted the widow, "an' here's what
I've got to say. We must have only wan man to guide us if we are to get
on at all. Too many