away, to avoid that operation being performed by the eccentric
movements of the billows, and was going towards the door of the cabin,
when the ship received a tremendous blow, which made her quiver from
stem to stern. At the same time loud cries reached his ears; he sprang
on deck, when, glancing towards the bridge, he saw his second lieutenant
alone standing there.

"Man overboard!" shouted several voices.

"Who is it?" he asked.

"Mr Rogers, sir," was the answer; "he was on the bridge a moment ago,
and he isn't there now."

"There he is, there he is," shouted someone; and a figure was seen
struggling on the foaming crest of a sea. Adair had made his way aft to
the lifebuoy, and, pulling both the lanyards, as it dropped into the
ocean, a bright light burst forth from its centre. For one moment he
gazed at it; he recollected that Tom was Lucy's brother,--he had been
committed to his charge,--without aid he would be unable to reach the
buoy. Can I allow him to perish without an attempt to save him? These
thoughts flashed through his mind far more rapidly than it has taken to
record them; and, without considering the fearful risk he was running,
shouting to his first lieutenant to lower a boat, he plunged overboard,
and was seen buffeting the tumbling seas and making his way towards the
midshipman; who, catching sight of him, cried out, "All right--I see the
lifebuoy, and shall soon be up to it."

Adair, believing that he said this to prevent him from exhausting
himself by making efforts to assist him, contented himself by treading
water and throwing off his coat, that he might be able to swim to Tom's
assistance, should he prove after all unable to reach the lifebuoy. The
ship, meantime, was running on before the gale, and minutes which seemed
hours passed by before her canvas could be reduced and she could be
rounded to, to enable a boat to be lowered. Besides the regular boats'
crews who stood collected between two of the guns, ready for instant
service, numerous volunteers had come forward, as is always found to be
the case whenever there is work to be performed; the two lieutenants
stood together.

"We shall sacrifice the boat's crew and boat if we make the attempt,"
observed the first lieutenant; "still, I wish to obey the commander's
orders."

The first lieutenant and master were both of opinion that a boat could
not live in such a sea; the discussion was brief, but it lost time, and
every moment w