led in through the hawse-
pipes, and examined them most carefully. They were both unmistakably
cut through--a clean cut, sir, evidently done with a sharp knife--at
about the level of the water's edge."

"Most extraordinary!" commented Perry. "And I presume nobody saw
anything, either immediately before you went adrift or afterwards--no
boat, or anything of that kind, I mean--to account for the affair?"

"No," answered Purchase, "nothing. Yet I was not only wide-awake and on
the alert myself, but I took care that the anchor watch should be so
also; for I felt the responsibility of having such a ship as the
_Psyche_ to take care of, with only twenty hands, all told, to help me."

"Of course," agreed the skipper. "And did you succeed in getting
everybody ashore safely?"

"Yes, thank God!" answered Purchase fervently. "We are all safe and
sound, and very little the worse for our adventure, thus far."

"Ah! that at least is good news," remarked Perry. "Well," he continued,
"there is one very melancholy duty demanding our immediate attention,
Mr Purchase, namely, the interment of Captain Harrison and the other
poor fellow who fell during the attack upon the barracoon to-day. I
will see about that matter personally, by choosing a suitable spot and
getting the graves dug, for we shall soon have the darkness upon us.
Meanwhile, you will be good enough to get tents rigged and such other
preparations made as may be possible for the comfort of all hands, and
especially the wounded, during the coming night; for we have all had a
very trying day, and it is imperative that we should secure a good
night's rest. Mr Fortescue, come with me, if you please."

Now, during the progress of the foregoing conversation the boat party
had not been idle; for, as soon as the fact of the wreck had become
known to them, Mr Hoskins, the third lieutenant, seeing how matters
stood, had grappled with the situation by causing the guns, ammunition,
and stores of all kinds to be landed from the boats, and the craft
themselves to be hauled up high and dry upon the beach on the river-side
of the sand spit; and then, leading his men over the ridge, to where the
others were at work upon the salving of wreckage from the surf, he had
detailed a party to pick out from among the pile of heterogeneous
articles such things as were most needed to meet our more immediate
wants, and carry or drag them up the slope to the spot which Henderson,
the surgeon,