hand, keeping the other ready to render further assistance.

"Look out, sir, I'm coming," he heard the chief mate mutter, and then,
with a tremendous swing, Mr Bowen's body came into view. Quick as
thought George leaned over and caught the disengaged hand, placed it too
upon the iron, and then, rising to his feet and exerting his strength to
the utmost, he proceeded to drag his chief mate up alongside himself.

"Now," he whispered, as soon as he had got him there, "I shall begin to
work my way forward at once, so as to be out of your way; but you had
better stay and lend Cross a hand. I shall wait for you both in the
fore-chains."

So saying, he stepped off the brace-iron, planting his feet firmly on
the broad beading which ran along the top edge of the sheer-strake, and
leaning his body against the bulwarks, whilst he grasped the outer edge
of the rail to steady himself, he speedily and easily reached the
mizzen-chains.

Here, availing himself of the partial shelter and cover afforded by the
lanyards and dead-eyes of the rigging, he cautiously raised his head
above the level of the bulwarks, to survey the state of the deck
inboard. The first object which met his view was the figure of the
helmsman, rendered visible by the light of the binnacle-lamps as they
beamed dimly out upon him and feebly lighted up his figure. He was
leaning negligently against the wheel, with one arm thrown carelessly
over it, and his eyes were vacantly fixed upon the cloudy heavens above
him, with his thoughts evidently far away. Not another soul was
visible, either forward or aft; but George thought he could make out the
indistinct outline of something resembling a human figure seated on the
bench to windward of the cabin companion. He continued so long his
earnest gaze upon this object that he was quite startled to find his
first and second mates beside him; and he came at last to the conclusion
that, if it were indeed a human figure at all, it must be that of the
prize-master--sound asleep.

Turning his glances from this object forward, he saw that the
galley-door to windward was shut, whilst on the lee-side it was open,
the reflection of a light inside shining pretty strongly upon the lee
bulwarks and showing the shadows of men evidently in the act of eating
and drinking.

"Do you see that?" whispered George to his two companions. "Nothing
could possibly be more favourable to our plans. We will work our way
forward as far as