out, so there it'll
be starved to death, or drownded!"

"It was my fault as well," interposed Kate, looking quite as unhappy as
her sister and the stewardess. "I told Mary to lock it up."

"Be jabers!" ejaculated the first mate, "it'll never do to lave it
there. Sure and we'd be onlucky altogether if a cat came to harm in the
old ship! I didn't know it was aboord at all, at all. Sure an' there's
no knowing but what all our misfortunes have been brought about by the
same baste, bad cess to it?"

"Oh, Mr McCarthy!" exclaimed Kate, "how can you believe that?"

"Sure, and I mane it," answered the Irishman promptly, as if he put the
greatest faith in the superstition.

"Well," said Mr Meldrum, "I'm sorry for the poor animal; but it will
have to stop there now! The sea is very rough, and I would hardly like
to risk men's lives to save a cat!"

"I'll go back for it, sir," volunteered Frank Harness with a look at
Kate, which said as plainly as looks could speak that he was ready to do
a good deal more than that to please her. "You were speaking just now
of sending off the jolly-boat to fetch what we could from the wreck; so
we can bring the poor cat on shore at the same time."

"Yes, I certainly did suggest that just now," said Mr Meldrum; "but, as
Mr McCarthy pointed out, there is a good deal of sea on, and--"

"Sure, but I said, sorr, I'd go if you liked," interrupted the first
mate eagerly, not wishing to be behindhand when Frank had offered; "and,
faix, I'm ready at once."

"Let the durned animile slide," put in Mr Lathrope. "It ain't worth a
cent, much less such a tall price as yar life."

"No, we won't," said Mr McCarthy, all anxiety now to start. "Who'll
volunteer to go back to the wreck and save the cat!" he called out
aloud.

"I will," and "I," and "I," cried out several of the seamen, laughing
and passing all sorts of chaff about the expedition; and soon there were
more than enough offers to man the jolly-boat twice over if all had been
taken who offered.

Ben Boltrope was one of the first to stand out; but Mr Meldrum at once
motioned him back.

"You must not go," said he. "I shall want your carpentering aid very
soon, and can't spare you." It was the same with some others amongst
the hands, Mr Meldrum picking them out as they stepped forwards.

Before long, however, a crew was selected; when, the jolly-boat being
run down into the water by the aid of a dozen other willing hands,
besides he