ry well," said Tim, who had been down to the cabin to
inspect the chart, "but this can't go on. We've had water-room all day,
but I reckon we are closing in on the land every yard now, and if we
don't put out her head we shall find ourselves on the Connemara coast."

"Better run for Galway, and say nothing," said I.

"Too late now. I wish we had."

"Out she goes then," said I; "it's a question between going down where
we are or breaking to pieces against Slyne Head."

"That's just it," said Tim. "The captain's dead drunk below. Call all
hands aft, Barry; let them choose."

The men crowded aft, and Tim spoke to them.

"We're in for an ugly night, my lads, and we're on a rotten boat. The
carpenter says, unless we run before the wind, we shall go to pieces in
half-an-hour. I say, if we do run, we shall be on Slyne Head in two
hours. Which shall it be? I don't mind much myself."

"Put it to the vote," said one.

So a vote was taken, and of forty men who voted, twenty-five were for
death in two hours, and fifteen for death in an hour.

"Very good," said Tim. "Get to your posts, and remember you are under
orders till we strike. Then shift for yourselves; and the Lord have
mercy on us all!"

"Amen!" said the sailors, and returned to their duties.

It was a terrible night, and, to make matters worse, as black as pitch.
We should not even have the help of daylight for meeting our doom.

"Barry," said Tim, "I don't think we shall both perish. If it's I,
promise me you will fight for Ireland till she is free."

"If you die, Tim, I don't care what I do. I promise. And if I die,
promise me--"

"Not to go near that girl?"

"No," said I, with a groan.

"What, then?"

"Search below the great hearth at Kilgorman, and do whatever the message
you will find there bids you. It is not my message, but our mother's."

"I promise that. But hold on now," said he, catching me by the arm,
"the old ship's beforehand with us. She's going to pieces before we
reach shore."

Sure enough she was. The rough water into which we were plunging
loosened her already warped timbers, and she gradually ceased to rise on
the waves, but settled down doggedly and sullenly as the water poured in
on this side and that and filled her hold. Captain Keogh, suddenly
roused to his senses, staggered on deck, and took the helm, not for any
good he could do, but from the sailor's instinct to be at his post at
the end.

All hands ca