naythor does I, sure," I heard the corporal say as I turned
to go in search of Mr Jellaby, who having made his way to the after
part of the vessel, with the coxswain, had been out of our sight now for
some time. "It'll be blowin' great guns in a brace of shakes, or I'm a
Dutchman, for the say is gettin' purty rough already, an', begorrah,
it's wishin' I wor safe aboord the ould _Candahar_ agen, I am; ay, an'
alongside ov the cook's galley sure!"

I could not catch what the doctor said in reply to this, being too much
occupied in looking after my own safety while trying to pick my steps
towards the stern; for there was a lot of loose dunnage washing
backwards and forwards as the hulk rolled sluggishly from side to side
and tons of water continually came in as the waves broke over her,
causing me to keep my weather eye open and clutch hold of every stray
rope I could grip that was secured in any way to prevent me from going
overboard. The noise of the wind and sea and creaking and groaning of
the poor ship's timbers, too, was something awful.

When I succeeded at last on getting aft, I found the entrance to the
cabin from the deck was blocked by the wreck of the mizzenmast.

By means of this, I climbed up on to the poop, the proper ladder
belonging to which had also been smashed by the fall of the spars from
aloft, as well as the covering of the booby hatch and skylight; a
yawning chasm of splintered glass and broken framework only now
representing the latter structure, while the former had disappeared
entirely.

The companion way, however, seemed still firm enough, although nearly
filled up with fragments of wood and odds-and-ends of all sorts, besides
being about a foot or so of water over all at the bottom of the
stairway; and, I was just on the point of adventuring down in my quest
of the lieutenant, when the latter emerged from the passage that led
into the cabin or saloon below, followed by Bill Bates.

Mr Jellaby's face was as pale as that of the man we had rescued.

So was the coxswain's; and both seemed to start on seeing me as if I had
been a ghost.

"Good heavens, my boy!" exclaimed the lieutenant. "How did you get
here?"

"The doctor sent me, sir," I answered glibly. "He was getting anxious
about you and thought something had happened."

"By Jove, you gave me quite a turn after coming out of that infernal den
there!" he said with a shudder, pointing over his shoulder. "I never
saw such a sight