oard.

They hailed him, but he was too weak to answer. He managed, however, to
wave one of his hands to show that he was alive.

The fishing-vessel came on, and hove-to close to him. The sea had
considerably gone down. A boat was launched from her deck, and pulled
up to the raft, with two men in her.

They said something, but Bill could not understand them. One of them,
as they got up alongside, sprang on to the raft, and casting off the
lashings which held Bill to it, the next instant was safe in the boat
with him in his arms.

The man having placed him in the stern-sheets, the boat quickly returned
to the cutter.

Bill was lifted on board, and the boat was then hauled up again on the
cutter's deck. His preservers, though rough-looking men, uttered
exclamations in kind tones which assured Bill that he had fallen into
good hands. One of them then carried him down into the little cabin,
and stripping off his wet clothes, placed him between the blankets in a
berth on one side.

In a few minutes the same man, who appeared to be the captain of the
fishing-vessel, returned with a cup of hot coffee and some white bread.
Stirring the coffee and blowing to cool it, he made signs to Bill that
he must drink some of it.

This Bill very gladly did, and he then felt able to eat some of the
bread, which seemed very sweet and nice. This greatly restored his
strength.

He wished, however, that he could answer the questions which the men put
to him. He guessed that they were Frenchmen, but not a word of French
did he know.

At last another man came into the cabin.

"You English boy?" asked the man.

"Yes," said Bill.

"Ship burn; blow up?" was the next question put to Bill, the speaker
showing what he meant by suitable action.

"Yes," said Bill, "and I am afraid all my shipmates are lost. Though
you are French, you won't send me to prison, I hope?"

"Have no fear," answered the man, smiling; and turning round to his
companions, he explained what Bill had said. They smiled, and Bill
heard them say, "Pauvre garcon."

"No! no! no! You sleep now, we take care of you," said the interpreter,
whose knowledge of English was, however, somewhat limited.

Bill felt a strong inclination to follow the advice given him. One of
the men, bundling up his wet clothes, carried them to dry at the little
galley fire forward. The rest went on deck, and Bill in another minute
fell fast asleep. Where the cutter was going Bil