then Jerry came up. "I'll stick by you, whatever you intend
doing," he answered, when Tom told him what he proposed.

In the mean time, the boatswain, with the survivors of the crew, had
lowered the boat, and were throwing various things into her. Jerry made
out Tim and Pat among the people about to go off.

"Where are you going to?" he shouted. "Mr Rogers says he'll stick by
the wreck, and you'll not be deserting him, I hope?"

"That I'll not. Tim Nolan is not the man to desert his officer,"
answered Tim, as he made his way to the after part of the ship, where
Jerry was. Pat either did not hear Jerry, or determined to go off in
the boat if he could. The doctor and Peter, who had come on deck,
seemed undecided. It was evident from the dislike Peter had for the
boatswain that he was unwilling to accompany him. The boatswain, with
six other men, who alone remained of the crew, disappeared over the side
into the boat. The doctor, seized by a sudden impulse, rushed to the
side of the ship, shouting--

"Take me with you! take me with you!" but the oars had been got out, the
boat shoved off, and was already tossing among the broken water on the
lee of the ship, several fathoms off.

"You are safer on the wreck than in that boat," said Tom, as the doctor
came back.

"Dat you are, Massa Locock," said Peter. "See dare where de boat go."

Through the gloom the boat could just be distinguished, surrounded by
leaping masses of foaming water. The party on board watched her with
anxious eyes, until she disappeared in the darkness.

"Hark!" cried Peter. "Me tink I hear a shriek; dat come from de boat;
depen' upon it we no see her 'gan."

As, however, she must have been by this time a long way to leeward, Tom
thought it impossible that any human voice could have come up against
the wind still blowing as it did. Tom and Desmond, with the rest of the
party, discussed the probability as to where they were. They must have
passed over a sunken reef, on which the ship had first struck, and had
then run right on to another part of the reef, somewhat higher, where
she had become fixed. This was probably on the inner or lee side.
Though the sea broke over the fore part of the ship, the after part was
tolerably dry, and hopes were entertained that she would hold together
for some hours, and, should the wind go down, perhaps for days, which
would enable them to provide for their safety. After the doctor had
sufficiently