lee side of the sails was already under water,
there was no probability that the brig would rise again. Every moment,
indeed, it seemed as if she must go down. Their position was truly a
fearful one.

The mate and the man at the helm had apparently slipped off into the
water, as they were nowhere visible. Of the two men forward, one only
succeeded in gaining the bulwarks, the other had probably shared the
fate of the mate. The condition of those below was terrible. Unable to
gain the deck, they were probably drowned in their berths. Although the
main hatchway was closed, the fore and companion hatches were open.

The wind howled over the doomed brig; the sea was getting up. The
midshipmen believed that she must quickly founder and their fate be
sealed.

"We have gone through many a danger together," said Tom, to Desmond;
"but I believe our time has come at last. I wish my brother Jack could
have known our fate. He will be very sorry for us, and so will those at
home."

"It cannot be helped," said Desmond. "I should have liked to live
longer, and we are better off than the poor fellows drowning in their
berths."

"What! Do you think the brig is going down?" cried Billy. "Dear me,
how dreadful; can't we get something to float upon?"

"As the water is rushing into her fearfully fast, I don't see what
chance there is of her floating," answered Tom. "However, we will not
give up all hope while she remains above water. Perhaps, when the
squall is passed over, we may manage to scramble out along the masts and
cut away the topgallant yards, and get hold of some of the gratings or
spare spars to form a raft."

"We must be quick about it, then," observed Desmond; "for the old craft
may go down at any moment."

"While the wind is blowing as it is now, there is no use making the
attempt," said Tom. "She does not appear to me to have sunk lower than
she did when she first went over. She has a light cargo, and will float
longer than a vessel heavily laden."

The midshipmen, however, could not talk much, for it was a difficult
matter to make each other hear, what with the sound of the wind, and the
sea dashing against the hull of the brig, while showers of spray fell
over them. They could distinguish the figures of Casey and Peter, with
another man holding on to the fore-rigging, but as yet they had been
unable to exchange words with them, and were afraid to let go their
hold, lest they should be washed o