p as he emerged from the companion way.

"We'll never know the rights of it, however, unless the doctor manages
to bring round that poor chap we released from the rigging, who must
have been tied up by the mutineers and thus escaped them somehow or
other! I couldn't find a log-book or anything else in the cabin which
would give us a scrap of information about the vessel or those belonging
to her; and, all the rest of the wreck is under water--indeed, I don't
think she's far off sinking."

"Beg pardon, sir," observed the coxswain, interrupting him. "The ship's
just sent up our recall, and she's bearing away now to pick us up to
leeward when we cast off from here, sir."

"Yes, my man, I see, and I notice, also, she has sent down her
topgallants and taken in another reef," returned Mr Jellaby, proceeding
to work his way back amidships to those we had left there, wading
through the water and wreckage and tophamper strewing the waist. "The
old doctor, too, looks in a precious wax and is carrying on at a grand
rate about our keeping him waiting, I bet. He's jawing away now to that
knowing hand of a marine of his; so the sooner we see about getting him
aboard our old barquey again the better!"

He could not have come to a wiser conclusion, for the wind had increased
in force rapidly, even during the short interval since I had left the
deck, now blowing more than half a gale; while the sea was beginning to
run high, breaking over the bows of the half-submerged hulk, sending up
columns of spray that wetted us where we were and almost drenching
Doctor Nettleby and the corporal, who were attending to the poor
Spaniard amidships, just under the lee of the mainmast.

"You're a nice fellow!" cried the doctor to Mr Jellaby on our
approaching near enough to hear what he said. "It won't be your fault
if we're not all drowned here like rats in a hole and never reach the
ship. As for the cutter, I believe she's swamped already!"

He was in a fine rage, certainly; but, the lieutenant, whose good temper
was proof against any amount of irritability, soon calmed him down.

"I beg your pardon, doctor," he said, as he hailed the bowman of the
cutter, which was not swamped as yet, although making very bad weather
of it, telling him to haul up alongside under the lee of the wreck. "I
really beg your pardon, doctor, but I could not be any quicker; for the
captain ordered me to examine the vessel and see if I could find her
papers."