board. The launch was on his port side; and
the result was a violent collision between the two boats, the pinnace
striking the launch with such force as to send the latter clear of the
schooner whilst the pinnace herself, recoiling from the shock, stopped
dead immediately under the schooner's stern. There was a sharp sudden
crash as the _Petrel's_ rudder clove its irresistible way through the
doomed boat, and a yell of dismay from its occupants, several of whom
made a spring at the schooner's taffrail, only to be remorselessly
thrust off again.

"There is a chance for them yet," said the skipper, as the schooner
continued to drive astern leaving the wretches struggling in the water,
"the launch has escaped; she can pick them up."

At length the schooner's way slackened sufficiently to enable Lance, by
looking over the bow and stern, to ascertain her exact trim.

"It is perfect," he exclaimed to Captain Staunton as he rejoined the
latter near the companion, "she sits accurately down to her proper
water-line everywhere, thus proving the correctness of all my
calculations--a result which pleases as much as it surprises me, since I
have had to depend entirely on my memory for the necessary _formula_.
Well, Captain Staunton, my task is now finished; here is the schooner,
fully rigged and fairly afloat; take charge of her, my dear sir; and may
she fully answer all your expectations!"

"Thanks, Evelin; a thousand thanks!" exclaimed the skipper, heartily
grasping Lance's proffered hand. "You have indeed executed your self-
imposed task faithfully and well. Let me be the mouth-piece of all our
party in conveying to you our most hearty expressions of gratitude for
the noble manner in which you have aided us in our great strait. To you
is entirely due the credit of bringing our project thus far to a
successful issue; but for your skill, courage, and resolution we might
have been compelled to remain for years--Ha! what is that?"

A low rumbling roar was faintly heard in the distance, rapidly
increasing in volume of sound, and breaking in with startling effect
upon the breathless stillness of the night.

"It is another earthquake," exclaimed Lance. "Thank Heaven, we are
afloat! Had it caught us upon the stocks it would doubtless have shaken
the cradle to pieces, and, in all probability, thus frustrated our
escape."

The ominous sound drew swiftly nearer and nearer, filling the startled
air with a chaos of sound which