to his young officer to join him,
while he paddled with a piece of board clear of the sinking vessel. Ned
seeing that Cox had managed to reach the side, sprang overboard, his
example being followed by the latter, as well as by the young Arab who
had remained aft. Before any of the rest of the crew had extricated
themselves, the dhow, plunging her head into the sea, rapidly glided
downwards, and in an instant the despairing cries of the perishing
wretches which had filled the air were silenced. Stone, influenced by
the natural desire of saving his own life, paddled away with might and
main to escape being drawn down in the vortex. Ned had also struck out
bravely, though he had to exert all his swimming powers to escape. For
an instant he cast a glance back; the dhow had disappeared with all
those on board; Cox was nowhere to be seen; he caught sight, however, of
the young Arab, who, having clutched hold of a piece of bamboo, had come
to the surface, but was evidently no swimmer.

"I must try and save that poor fellow," he thought. "I can manage to
keep him afloat until the canoe gets up to us." Ned carried out his
intention. On reaching the young Arab he made a sign to him to turn on
his back, placing the piece of bamboo under him. Just then he heard a
faint shout--it came from Cox, who had returned to the surface, though,
like the Arab, unable to swim.

"Save me, save me!" shouted Cox, who was clinging to a log of wood.

Stone heard him, and Ned saw the head of the canoe turned towards where
the seaman was struggling.

"Pick him up first!" he shouted to Stone. "I can keep this man afloat
until you come to us."

With only a board to impel the canoe, it took Stone a considerable time
to reach his messmate, whom it was then no easy matter to get into the
canoe without upsetting her. While Stone was thus employed, Ned did his
uttermost to calm the fears of the young Arab, who, besides being unable
to swim, probably recollected that sharks abounded in those seas, and
dreaded lest he and the Englishman might be attacked by one. Ned
thought only of one thing, that he had to keep himself and a
fellow-creature afloat until the canoe should come up to them. As to
how they should get on board, he did not allow himself to think just
then. She was scarcely large enough to hold four people, though she
might possibly support the whole party until Rhymer could send the boat
to pick them up. Ned, withdrawing his eye