t, and gliding down a
rope, struck out astern. There was a strong current running, he had
before discovered, and he knew that the man who had fallen overboard
would be carried rapidly away from the ship.

"Who are you?" he sang out in a loud voice. "Tell me, that I may know
where to swim to you."

There was no answer.

"It was Mr Murray, sir," cried some one from the ship. "We are afraid
that he must have hurt himself as he fell."

This was sad news to Jack. Still he determined to persevere. The only
light he had to guide him was from the burning fire-ships now drifting
away. Should Murray come to the surface, he hoped he might see him and
be near enough to support him, till a boat could arrive and pick them
up. He heard the sounds of a boat being lowered from the frigate. He
raised himself out of the water for an instant to look around, and he
felt sure that he perceived a person's head not far off. He made
strenuous efforts to reach it. Just then also he saw, the glare of the
burning vessel being cast on it, what he would rather not have seen--a
large Chinese boat. He was certain that the head was Murray's. His old
friend was drifting rapidly down towards the pirates. He had every
reason to fear that they would strike at Alick the moment he got near.
He knew also that they would equally strike at him, but this did not
make him hesitate a moment. He clove the water with all his might,
dashing on till he was close up to the drowning man. He hoped that the
pirates might not have seen him.

"A few more strokes, and I shall have him," he exclaimed to himself.
Just then he saw some of the savage-looking pirates standing up in the
boat peering towards him. A gleam of light fell on the head of the
person in the water. It was Murray. He seized his friend by the collar
and turned him on his back, then struck out once more towards the
frigate. Of course he had but one hand at liberty, and in spite of all
his efforts he could not stem the current, but found himself and Murray
still drifting down towards their relentless foes. Some accident had,
apparently, happened to the boat, and he could not tell whether or not
she was even yet in the water. He could do nothing but keep himself and
his companion afloat. He dared not shout, as his so doing would draw
the attention of the pirates towards them, and he felt sure that, at all
events, a boat would be sent to look for him. Jack and Alick had now
another d