received. Still Jack was very
anxious to get him safe on board, and under the doctor's care. Time
went on, and still the frigate did not appear. Adair proposed starting
off to the other side of the island to ascertain what had become of her,
when a boat was seen rounding the point. "She is Mr Cherry's boat,"
was the cry. "Hurrah! hurrah!" With hearty cheers, Mr Cherry was
welcomed on shore. He had had a severe struggle, and had lost two of
his men killed, and three wounded, but had succeeded in putting the
pirates to flight. His boat was not large enough to carry all the
party, but he had one of the carpenter's crew with him, and some tools;
and, after a little examination, Tom Gimlett declared that he could
patch up one of the boats so as to make her in a fit condition to
launch. All hands helping, and with the aid of some planks from the
other boat, this was done, and at length the two boats were on the
water, on their way to look for the frigate. When Mr Cherry heard how
long it was since she had passed the island, he began to be somewhat
anxious about her. The boats, however, were so heavily laden, that they
could not make much speed to satisfy themselves as to what had happened.
The men did their best, and it was wonderful how they kept up their
spirits under the hot broiling sun, which, as Paddy observed, "was
roaring away like a furnace, right over their heads." No sooner had
they rounded the island than the sound of a gun, booming over the smooth
waters, reached their ears. At slow intervals another and another
followed. "The ship is in distress," observed Adair to Jack. "What can
have happened?"

"Give way, lads," cried Jack, seizing the stroke oar, and bending his
back to it with a will. It was the only answer he made to Adair's
remark. Little Harry looked up at him with admiration and affection,
and the men exerted themselves more than ever. On they pulled, hour
after hour. No one proposed resting, even to take any refreshment,
except a piece of biscuit, which the men chewed during the intervals
that they were relieved at the oars.

"There she is at last," cried Jack, standing up on the stern-sheets. He
took a steady look at her through his glass. So did Mr Cherry through
his. Her sails were set, but with heavy hearts, they both agreed that,
from her appearance, she must be hard and fast on shore, and if on a
coral reef there was too great a probability that she might not be got
off a