h foaming and
roaring seas; the mist had cleared away, but the clouds were as thick as
ever, chasing each other across the sky. Nothing else was to be seen.
Mountain waves and dark clouds almost pressing down on their heads--no
sail in sight to bring them assistance. So violently was the ship
tossed about, that they could scarcely keep their feet, even by holding
on.

"Oh, the boat! the boat!" shouted David. Just before, they had seen her
still afloat, secured by the hawser, when a heavy sea, rolling towards
the ship, broke aboard the boat, and filled her in an instant. She rose
on the top of a high foaming sea, when the thwart to which the two ropes
were secured was torn out of her, and the next moment she sunk from
sight. The boys looked at each other for a minute or more without
speaking.

"We shall have to stick to the ship now, at all events," said Harry at
last.

"I hope that the ship will stick to us, and keep afloat, then," remarked
David.

"We'll sound the well presently, and see what water she has in her,"
said Harry. "In the meantime, let us go down into the hold, and see of
what her cargo consists. Much depends on that, whether or not she keeps
afloat. I want to have a look into the fore peak also; I cannot make
out why the vessel should have been deserted."

The main hatch was on, and as it would have been dangerous to lift it,
even if they could have done so, when any moment the deck might have
been swept by a sea, they worked their way on to the fore hatch. This
was not secured. They descended. It was some time before they could
see about them in the close, dark, and dirty abode of the seamen. On
either side were bed-places, one above another, with a few large wooden
chests below them, and jackets and trousers, and various other articles,
hanging up against the bulkhead. They observed nothing of consequence,
and as the atmosphere was stirring, they were about to climb up again on
deck, when a low groan was heard. Both were brave fellows, but it must
be confessed that their hearts sunk, and their first impulse was to
hurry up the ladder as fast as they could go. Again there was a groan.
They looked at each other. Was it a human voice? There could be little
doubt about that. Where could it come from? They stopped for a few
seconds, holding on to the ladder, to recover their composure. The
voice came from one of the berths; of that they were soon satisfied.
Just then Harry observed