il they once more
rapidly approached the shore. For the remainder of the day they made
good progress; still they knew that they could not hope to reach it that
night, and once more the sun went down and left them in darkness. The
night passed as the former had done. No one now expressed a wish that
he had remained on the rock. Jack and Terence had kept up their spirits
wonderfully. At length, leaning on each other's shoulder, they fell
asleep. They were startled with a cry of "A sail ahead!" In an instant
every one roused up. As they looked out they saw a large brig on the
port tack, standing to the southward across their course. In a few
minutes more she would have shot ahead out of hearing. "Now, my lads,
shout, shout, till you crack your voices," cried out Hemming; "she is a
man-of-war brig; one of the cruisers on the station. I know her by the
cut of her canvas." Weak as all on board the raft at this time were,
they raised a shout such as Englishmen only know how to give. They
listened eagerly. Directly afterwards a cheer came in answer towards
them. The rattling of blocks was heard, and the brig's helm being put
down, and her maintopsail backed, she came up into the wind. In another
instant they were alongside. Cramped and half starved as they all had
been, they had great difficulty in getting on board. Hemming was the
only man who went up by himself, and his knees trembled so much when he
gained the deck that he had to lean against the bulwarks for support.
The officer of the watch came forward to receive them. Hemming gave his
name as a lieutenant of the _Ranger_.

"Delighted to see you," exclaimed the lieutenant of the brig; "we heard
at Sierra Leone that you were lost, for several vessels have been sent
to look for you, and not one could gain tidings of you. But come below;
you want sleep and food, and dry clothes."

The captain of the brig, hearing what had occurred, turned out, and had
berths made up for the two midshipmen in his own cabin, while one of the
lieutenants gave up his berth to Hemming in the gun-room. The doctor
was soon in attendance on all the party, and sleep, which they all so
much required, soon sealed their eyelids. Jack and Terence slept for a
long time. When they awoke the sun was shining right down the cabin
skylight. At the cabin table was sitting a midshipman reading. They
could not see his face, but there was something in his figure and
attitude which made th