ing tossed in a blanket by my
schoolfellows, who were jeering round me as I entreated to be let down;
then that a wild bull was throwing me up in the air, and was about to
catch me on his horns. Then that I was on a raft danced up and down by
the foaming waters. Now, that I was on deck, and was pitched overboard,
and left to struggle alone amid the raging seas. My voice--as I shouted
out for help--awoke me; and to my infinite satisfaction I found that the
vessel was much steadier than she had hitherto been. In a short time
daylight gleamed through the bull's eyes on deck, and getting up, I made
my way to the companion hatch. Just before I reached it, it was lifted
up, and papa put his head down.

"All right, my lads," he said; "we are under the lee of the land, and
the wind has greatly moderated. In a short time, if it continues to be
fine, we shall be able to haul up and beat back to Scilly. How is
Dick?"

"He has been very ill; but he is now fast asleep; and it would be a pity
to awaken him," I answered as I got up on deck.

I looked round, and could see the land on the starboard side bearing
south and east. The Longships Lighthouse was no longer in view. I
could make out a cape, which papa said was Cape Cornwall, to the
southward. I looked out for the Dolphin, but she was nowhere to be
seen.

"I am rather puzzled about her," said papa; "she could scarcely have run
us out of sight. Perhaps the vessel we saw last night was a stranger
bound up the Bristol Channel; still, she was closer in shore than was
advisable. Possibly the Dolphin remained hove-to, or if not, perhaps
she bore up before we did, and is already safe at anchor in Saint Ives
Bay. We must make the best of our way there. Hand me the glass."

I took the telescope from the bracket on which it hung inside the
companion hatch, and gave it to him. He looked earnestly for a minute
towards some high rocks which were at some distance from the land.

"I feared so," he observed; "there's a vessel on the rocks, with her
masts gone; but she's much too high for the Dolphin, or I should have
supposed it was that. We will stand in closer and have a look at her;
we shall find less sea there, and the wind has gone down so much and the
weather is so evidently improving, that we shall run no unnecessary
danger. What do you think, Truck?"

Papa had handed the glass to Truck, who was looking through it.

"If anybody is left alive, we may have a chance