uration. Daylight
again appeared; but the scene was as forlorn and threatening as that of
the previous morning.

While the first-lieutenant and Harry Shafto, and some of the other
officers, were engaged in examining the boats and clearing them of
lumber, the purser was busily employed in collecting provisions, and
separating those of various description, so that each boat might be
supplied with a sufficiency, in due proportion.

"The boats will not carry a quarter of our number," observed Harry to
the first-lieutenant.

"No, Shafto," was the answer. "We know that. The captain has decided
who is to go in each of them. Then we who remain must form rafts, and
do the best we can to save our lives."

"Should the ship sink beneath us!" observed Harry. "I fear, in this
cold and stormy sea, that a raft would be of no real service, though it
might prolong our existence for a few hours."

"We, however, must do our best to preserve the lives of the poor people
committed to our charge," said Mr Tobin.

"We certainly must do that, if possible," said Harry; "and it seems to
me that the sea has gone down a little since daybreak; I have been
watching it anxiously."

"I agree with you, Shafto," replied Mr Tobin. "The wind has lessened
considerably within the last half-hour, and though we may not be able to
keep the old ship afloat, there is a better prospect of the boats
escaping."

Some time was occupied in getting the boats ready; oars, masts, and
sails were put into each; tackles were rove for hoisting them out; but
Commander Newcombe was unwilling to give the order to lower them while
there seemed a prospect of the ship floating and the sea going down.

The crew were now piped to breakfast, as if nothing particular was
occurring. The spirits of all on board were somewhat raised by
observing the evident improvement in the weather. The carpenter
reported that the water was gaining less rapidly on the pumps, but still
it was gaining. Another sail, however, was got up from below, fothered
like the last, and passed with ropes under the ship's bottom. It
produced a more satisfactory result than the former ones; still, after
another hour had passed, the water continued coming in faster than it
could be pumped out. The commander and Colonel Morley were seen
earnestly consulting together. They were joined by the
first-lieutenant.

"The winch of the starboard pump has broken, and the pump is disabled,
sir," he said,