o work the pumps; and don't let the men know how much
water there is in the hold. Come below, Ned. I want you. Keep her
head steady as she goes."

"Ay, ay, sir," sang out O'Neil, as the captain descended the
companion-hatch to the cabin, followed by his young friend.

The dim light in the swinging lamp flickered fitfully when the ship
plunged into the troughs of the seas, and rose again with a violent
surge, as each wave passed under her, while every plank and spar on
board seemed to groan under the strain. Darkness now added to the
terrors of the wild storm.

Sitting down on a locker, Captain Bunting placed his elbows on the
table, and covering his face with his hands, remained silent for several
minutes, while Ned sat down beside him, but forbore to interrupt his
thoughts.

"Boy," he said, at length, looking up anxiously, "we've sprung a leak,
and a few minutes will shew what our fate is to be. Five feet of water
in the hold in so short a time implies a bad one."

"Five feet two, sir," said the mate, looking in at the cabin door; "and
the carpenter can't get at the leak."

"I feared as much," muttered the captain. "Keep the men hard at the
pumps, Mr Williams, and let me hear how it stands again in ten
minutes."

"Captain," said Ned, "it does not become a landsman to suggest, perhaps,
but I can't help reminding you, that leaks of this kind have been
stopped by putting a sail below the ship's bottom."

"I know it, boy, I know it; but we could never get a sail down in such a
night."

"Can nothing be done, then?"

"Yes, lad; it's hard to do it, but it must be done; life is more
precious than gold--we must heave the cargo overboard. I have invested
every farthing I have in the world in this venture," continued Captain
Bunting, sadly, "but there's no help for it. Now, you were at the
shifting of the cargo when we opened the hatches during the calms off
the Brazilian coast, and as you know the position of the bales and
boxes, I want you to direct the men so as to get it hove out quickly.
Luckily, bein' a general cargo, most o' the bales are small and easily
handled. Here comes the mate again--well, Mr Williams?"

"Up another inch, sir."

"Go, Ned, over with it. I'll superintend above; so good-bye to our
golden dreams."

There was a slight tone of bitterness in the captain's voice as he
spoke, but it passed away quickly, and the next instant he was on deck
encouraging his men to throw the valuable