ard, which had parted at the slings, hanging down all a-cockbill.

There was a portion of the shrouds left, also, and the backstay; but, of
everything else, as far as we could judge at that distance, a clean
sweep had been made fore and aft and the vessel seemed to be a complete
wreck.

The commander's keen eyes, however, caught sight of something, which at
the first glance had escaped the notice of both lookout and signalman;
not to speak of the many officers who stood around on the poop,
scrutinising the dismantled vessel through their glasses, none of whom
had observed this object until Commander Nesbitt pointed it out.

"Hullo!" he exclaimed abruptly. "What is that lashed to the rigging on
her port beam?"

Every glass was instantly directed to the point he had indicated.

"It's a man, sir," said the signalman, noticing the object on its now
being pointed out to him, very wise after the event, as most of us are
disposed to be in everyday life. "I think I can see him move, sir."

"Yes, by Jove!" cried Mr Jellaby, who stood near, holding on to one of
the davits, jumping up on the gunwale to have a better view. "There he
is waving one of his arms now!"

"I don't know about that, imagination sometimes goes a great way in
these matters," observed Commander Nesbitt, after carefully inspecting
the battered hulk with the glass Mr Jellaby handed him; "but, at all
events, we'll send a boat aboard and see. Bosun's mate, pipe the watch
to stand by to heave the ship to! Clew up the courses. Square the main
yard!"

Larkyns, being, as I mentioned before, signal midshipman, had gone down
to report the fact of our being close up with the wreck to Captain
Farmer, who now appeared on the scene of action.

He at once gave an order for the first cutter to be lowered and
preparations made for boarding the strange vessel, an order which was
immediately carried into effect.

"Mr Jellaby had better go in charge of the boat, sir, I should think,"
suggested the commander. "There's a bit of a sea running and I don't
like sending a midshipman in such a case; for, you know, sir, we cannot
expect old heads on young shoulders."

"All right, Nesbitt," replied the captain; "do as you like."

This was a great disappointment to Ned Anstruther, who had come on deck
fully equipped for the expedition in his sea boots and monkey jacket.

He had hurriedly dressed himself on hearing the cutter piped away as he
was her proper officer, it