ke signals. Adair looked over the
signal-book.

"It can't be that!" he exclaimed, as he read, "Abandon ship, and come on
board me with your crew."

"There must be some mistake," he added in an undertone. "I wish that I
was blind of one eye and not able to see it. Answer it," he said at
length, "`Before we quit the ship, we'll try what we can do.'"

With reluctant heart he gave the order to heave the pivot-gun overboard,
taking care to secure a buoy to it, hoping that he might yet get it up.
The engine was set going, once more the capstan was manned, but still
the _Flash_ did not move.

"If that Commander Allport would stand in like a true man and lend us a
hand, we might get off even now," exclaimed Desmond. "Arrah, my poor
uncle, 'twill be after breaking his heart to leave the barkey here."

The _Anaconda_ now fired a gun and made fresh signals, ordering Adair
immediately to quit the ship. The boats, all of which had escaped
injury, were hoisted out, and the crew were ordered to leave the ship
they had fought so bravely. Adair was the last man to quit her.

"Well, I am the most unfortunate fellow alive!" he exclaimed.

He was thinking of Lucy and his promotion stopped, and all the other
unpleasant consequences of the loss of his ship. The only thing which
kept up his spirits was the hope that he might persuade Commander
Allport to stand in and make fresh efforts to get her afloat. It was a
wonder none of the boats were struck as they left the ship. They,
however, at length succeeded in getting on board the _Anaconda_.
Commander Allport, who was standing on deck, received Adair with a
supercilious air. He had been many years a lieutenant, and his temper
had been considerably soured before he had got his promotion; indeed,
some of those whom he had known as midshipmen were now admirals, and he
seemed to take especial pleasure in acting in a dictatorial manner
towards all those under him.

"Well, Commander Adair," he observed, as Terence stepped on deck, "you
have made a pretty business of this somehow or other; young officers
are, however, not always the best navigators, and the _Flash_ has been
lost to Her Majesty's Service. It won't bring much credit on those
concerned."

Adair bit his lip, but, though ready enough to retort, he wisely
restrained his temper, and answered, "If you will let me have your
boats, or will stand in and give us a tow while we keep the enemy at
bay, we may get the _Flash_