out of the dark tumbling waters.

Dick had gone again to the pumps. "Spell ho!" he cried, for he had
worked till he could work no longer. He had just thrown himself down by
the side of the raft when a fearful cry arose.

"The ship is sinking! the ship is sinking!"

Dick seated himself on the raft, with a spar in his hand which he had
prepared. Lower and lower the gallant ship sank. Many of the crew were
at the pumps; some were still below, some running to the forecastle,
others aft. Dick kept his post. The water rushed in at the ports--the
raft floated--a surge carried it overboard, Dick urging it by a shove
which sent it far away from the ship's side.

The _Laurel_ gave one plunge forward--her stern rose in the air--and
down she glided beneath the tumultuous waters. One fearful shriek arose
of strong men in their agony. Some few attempted to reach the raft, but
they were drawn down in the vortex caused by the sinking ship. Dick
vigorously plied his paddle, and though tumbled and tossed fearfully
about, he got far enough off to escape the danger of being drawn down
with the rest. Had he not had Charley to look after, he would have
shared the fate of his shipmates, he thought; and so he would, I am
sure. Though he was himself frequently under water, and often almost
washed off the little raft, the child, protected in the basket, remained
nearly dry. As Dick gazed back towards where the stout ship had lately
floated, he could see a few struggling forms with arms outstretched, and
hear their last cries for help ere they sank for aye, till that awful
day when the sea shall give up its dead; and in a few minutes he and
little Charley were the only living beings of all the gallant fellows
who had formed the crew of the ill-fated _Laurel_.

CHAPTER THREE.

DICK'S PRAYER.

Night had come and passed away since the gallant _Laurel_ had sunk. The
sea had much gone down, and Dick, no longer compelled to hold on for his
life, was able to open the basket and give Charley, who was crying out
for his breakfast, some food.

"Where de ship?" inquired Charley, in his imperfect English and little
innocent fashion. "Where we got to? Why not give me hot tea? Why give
me wet biscuit?"

"Don't ask questions, Charley," answered Dick. "If I have a fancy for
taking a cruise on this here raft, you should be content--you know I
have charge of you; and if I didn't think it the best thing to be done,
I wouldn't have