had occurred,
the night had come down completely on the world of waters.

"I am afraid that the poor lads must be lost," said the second to the
first lieutenant. "We ought to hear them or see something of them by
this time."

"Don't say that, Thorn," answered the first lieutenant. "Rogers is the
midshipman who took the fine on shore when the _Firefly_ was wrecked;
and Murray, though so quiet, is a very gallant fellow. They will do all
that can be done to save themselves. I should indeed be deeply grieved
if they were lost."

There was a good deal of sea at the time running, but not enough to make
the lowering of a boat a matter of danger if carefully performed.

"Well heave the ship to, and lower a couple of boats to go in search of
the lads," observed the captain.

The first lieutenant issued the necessary orders, and the ship was
brought up to the wind and hove-to. Mr Thorn eagerly went to lower one
of the boats. Hemming took charge of the other. Their respective crews
sprang into them. The falls were properly tended and unhooked at the
right moment, and, getting clear of the ship, they lay ready to pull in
whatever direction might be indicated. Here was the difficulty.

"Silence fore and aft," sang out the captain. "Does any one hear them?"

In an instant there was a dead silence. No one would have supposed that
many hundred human beings were at that moment alive and awake on board
the ship. Every one listened intently, but no sound was borne to their
ears. Even Captain Lascelles began to give up all hope.

"The poor widowed mother, how will she bear it?" he muttered; "and that
honest country gentleman--it will be sad news I shall have to send him
of his son."

Scarcely had the captain thus given expression to his feelings, when a
bright light burst forth amid the darkness some way to leeward. A shout
spontaneously arose from all on board. "They must have got hold of the
life-buoy, they must have got hold of the life-buoy," was the cry.
"Hurrah! hurrah!" The two boats dashed away, with eager strokes, in the
direction of the light.

Meantime Murray had towed Jack steadily on towards the buoy. He began
to feel very weary though, and sometimes he thought that his strength
would fail him. He looked at the buoy; it seemed a very long way off.
He felt at last that he should never be able to reach it. "I'll not
give in while life remains," he said to himself. Just then his hand
struck against