l could not tell. He
had known her to be a fishing-vessel by seeing the nets on deck, and he
had guessed that she was French by the way in which the people on board
had spoken. They had given evidence also that they intended to treat
him kindly.

Some hours must have passed away when Bill again awoke, feeling very
hungry. It was daylight, and he saw that his clothes were laid at the
foot of his berth.

Finding that his strength had returned, he got up, and began dressing
himself. He had just finished when he saw that there was some one in
the opposite berth. "Perhaps the skipper was up all night, and has
turned in," thought Bill; but as he looked again, he saw that the head
was certainly not that of a man, but the face was turned away from him.

His intention was to go on deck, to try and thank the French fishermen,
as far as he was able, for saving his life, but before he did so
curiosity prompted him to look again into the berth.

What was his surprise and joy to recognise the features of his shipmate,
Jack Peek! His face was very pale, but he was breathing, which showed
that he was alive. At all events, Bill thought that he would not awake
him, eager as he was to know how he had been saved.

He went up on deck, hoping that the man who had spoken a few words of
English might be able to tell him how Jack had been picked up. On
reaching the deck he found that the vessel was close in with the land.
She was towing a shattered gig, which Bill recognised as one of those
belonging to the _Foxhound_. He at once conjectured that Jack had
managed somehow or other to get into her.

As soon as he appeared, the Frenchmen began talking to him, forgetting
that he was unable to understand them. As he made no reply, they
recollected themselves, and began laughing at their own stupidity.

One of them shouted down the fore-hatchway, and presently the
interpreter, as Bill called him, made his appearance.

"Glad see you. All right now?" he said, in a tone of interrogation.

"All right," said Bill, "but I want you to tell me how you happened to
find my shipmate Jack Peek;" and Bill pointed down into the cabin.

"He, friend! not broder! no! We find him in boat, but he not say how he
got dere. Two oder men, but dey dead, so we heave dem overboard, and
take boat in tow," answered the man.

Jack himself was probably not likely to be able to give any more
information than the Frenchman had done. Suddenly it struck his