to their
narrow berths. The ladies had a small cabin aft, in which Mrs Clagget
declared that there was scarcely room to allow her to move her tongue,
an observation which brought a smile on the countenances of her
companions.

Willy was walking the deck with Bill Windy, with whom he had become very
friendly, when he caught sight of a dark object moving towards the
vessel. "There is a boat," he exclaimed; "where can she come from?"

"She is the cutter, depend on it, which those scoundrels ran away with,"
answered Windy. "They may mean mischief. Call the captain and the
watch below; it's as well to be prepared for them."

Captain Westerway and all hands were quickly on deck. The boat
approached cautiously, as if those in her were doubtful whether or not
they were perceived. At length she came alongside. The schooner's crew
stood ready for an attack, and it was then seen that she contained but
three people.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" asked Bill Windy.

"Oh, take us on board and give us some food," answered a voice. "We are
dying of hunger."

"Make fast the boat and lend them a hand," said Captain Westerway, and
the three men were helped up the schooner's side.

They were found to be two of the emigrants and one of the seamen who had
mutinied. They appeared thoroughly humbled and wretched. As soon as
they had taken a little food, they gave an account of their sufferings.

They stated that they were themselves the only survivors of the party--
two having fallen down precipices, one having been killed by a seal
which he incautiously approached, another having been drowned when
scrambling out on the rocks in search of mussels, and the rest having
died of starvation. Job Mawson, they declared, had been their
ringleader. They had last seen him lying in a sinking state in the
woods.

Although the vessel had already as many on board as could be
accommodated, the captain humanely received them, and the next morning
the cutter was sent on shore to be hauled up on the beach, as she was
too large either to tow or to be taken on board.

The patience of the passengers was greatly tried; but at length, after a
detention of three days, the weather moderating, the "Young Crusader"
again put to sea. Still she was doomed to experience contrary winds.

Provisions were running short, and all hands, with the exception of the
ladies, were put on short allowance. Day after day they beat backwards
and forwar