red constant baling, and the utmost care in
steering, to keep the boat from being swamped. Fortunately the storm
was accompanied by heavy rain, so that by catching a little of this in
their jackets and caps, they succeeded in quenching their thirst.
Hunger they had scarcely felt up to this time, but soon the cravings of
nature began to be imperious, and Gaff served out the first ration, on
the short allowance scale, which was so small that it served only to
whet their appetites. There was no need to row now. It was absolutely
necessary to run before the wind, which was so strong that a single oar,
set up in the place where the mast should have been, was sufficient to
cause the light craft to fly over the waves.

Each took the helm for a couple of hours by turns. Thus employed they
spent the day, and still thus employed the dark night found them.

Bad though things looked when there was light enough to enable them to
see the rush of the black clouds overhead, the bursts of the driving
spray and the tumultuous heavings of the wild sea, it was inconceivably
worse when the darkness settled down so thick that they could barely see
each other's faces, and the steering had to be done more by _feeling_,
as it were, than sight. Gaff took the helm during the greater part of
the night, and the other two baled incessantly; but the gale increased
so much that the water at last came in faster than it could be thrown
out, and they expected to be swamped every instant.

"We're goin' down, daddy," said Billy, while a strong inclination to
burst into tears almost choked him.

"Here, lad," shouted Gaff in a loud voice, for the noise of the wind and
waves rendered any other sound almost inaudible, "take the helm and keep
her right before the wind. Ye used to steer well; do yer best now, my
boy."

While he spoke Billy obeyed, and his father sprang into the middle of
the boat, and grasped the three oars and boat-hook with which the boat
was supplied. There were two small sails, which he wrapped hastily
round these, and then tied them all together tightly with a piece of
rope. In this operation he was assisted by Graddy, who seemed to
understand what his comrade meant to do.

The boat was now half full of water.

"Down the helm--hard down," roared Gaff.

"Ay, ay, sir," responded Billy, with the ready promptitude of a seaman.

The boat flew round; at the same moment Gaff hurled the bundle of sails
and spars overboard, and eas