ye of any of our
cruisers. No, no; there ain't many lights shown now, not in these
waters. Folks prefer to risk the chance of running into each other
rather than that of being caught by a French privateer."

Now that the trawls were out there was no occasion for any one to
attend to the helm, consequently when Joe announced that the fish were
ready Ralph went down and joined him in the cabin. The first hours of
the night passed quietly. Once an hour a trawl was hauled in and got
on board, and as the catches were satisfactory Joe was in capital
spirit.

"You have brought good luck, Master Conway; and I notices I generally
do well when you are out with me. I am getting more fish to-night than
I have any night for weeks, and if it goes on like this till morning I
shall make a good thing of it. I wants it bad enough, for I am in
arrears a bit with my rent. The war has made everything so terrible
dear that it is as much as a poor man can do to keep his head above
water.

"What time is it now, Joe, do you think?"

"About two o'clock, I reckon. It will begin to get light in a couple
of hours, and at five we will up nets and make our way back."

He had scarcely spoken when he shouted "Ship ahoy! Look out for
yourself, lad!" Startled by the suddenness of the cry Ralph looked
round. He saw a crest of white foam a few yards away in the darkness.
A moment later something dark passed over his head and a rope brushed
his cheek, and as it did so a black mass struck the boat. There was a
crash, a shock, and the Heartsease, after first heeling deeply over
under the pressure, suddenly sank down like a stone. Ralph had
staggered under the force of the collision, and would have fallen back
as the boat heeled over, but instinctively he threw up his arms and
his hand came in contact with the rope that had an instant before
touched his cheek. He seized it with both hands, and threw his legs
round it as the boat went down from under his feet, the whole thing
being so sudden that it was nearly a minute before he could realize
what had happened. Then he heard voices talking close by and, as it
seemed, above him.

"Hullo!" he shouted. "Help!" A few seconds later the light of a
lantern was flashed down upon him. Then a figure crawled out on the
spar projecting above his head, seized him by the collar, and lifted
him from the bobstay to which he was clinging on to the bowsprit. A
minute later he was standing on the deck.

"Thank you!" he