it was as clear as in daylight for a little while. I'm sure I saw
some one!"

"What was de some one like?" interrogated Snowball, in an accent that
proclaimed incredulity. "Was 'um a man or a woman?"

"Neither."

"Neider! Den it muss ha' been,--ha! maybe it war a mermaid!"

"What I saw looked like a boy, Snowball. O, now I think of it, like
that boy."

"What boy you 'peak 'bout?"

"He who was aboard the ship,--the English boy who was one of the
sailors."

"Ah! you mean de little Will'm, I 'pose. I reck'n dat 'ere lad hab gone
to de bott'm ob de sea long afore dis, or else he get off on de big
raff. I know he no go 'long wi' de cappen, 'case I see de little chap
close by de caboose after de gig row 'way. If he hab go by de raff dem
ruffins sure eat him up,--dat be if dey get hungry. Dey sure do dat!
Hark! what's dat I heer? Sure's my name be Snowball, I hear some 'un
'peak out dere to win'ard. D'you hear anything, lilly Lally?"

"Yes, Snowball: I think I did."

"What you tink you?"

"A voice."

"What sort o' voice?"

"Like a boy's voice,--just like _his_."

"Who you mean?"

"The boy-sailor aboard the ship. O, listen! There it is again; and
surely I hear another?"

"Gorramity! little gal, you 'peak de troof. Sure 'nuff dere am a
voice,--two ob dat same. One am like de boy we 'peak 'bout,--odder more
like a man o' full groaf. I wonder who dey can be. Hope 't an't de
ghoses of some o' de _Pandoras_ dat ha' been drowned or eat up by de
sharks. Lissen 'gain, Lally, an' try make dem out."

Having imparted this injunction, the negro raised himself into a
half-erect attitude; and facing to windward with his arms resting upon
one of the empty casks,--which, as already stated, formed a sort of
circular parapet around his raft,--he remained silent and listening.

The little Lalee had also assumed a half-erect attitude; and, by the
side of her sable companion, kept peering out into the darkness,--in the
hope that another flash of lightning might again reveal to her eyes the
features of that beautiful boy, who, alone of all upon that fated ship,
had made upon her mind an impression worthy of being remembered.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

TO THE OARS.

"We've got to die!"

As the sailor gave utterance to these words of fearful import, he
started from his recumbent position, and, half-erect upon the raft,
remained listening,--at the same time endeavouring with his glance to
pierce the darkne