he falls, while his chum carried the A.P.
to the now empty davit. Taking a few turns with his strong muffler
round the chest of the unconscious man, Ross engaged the hook of the
lower block, and slowly lowered him into Vernon's arms. Shrap followed
in a similar manner, since the drop was too great for him to leap
without risk of limb. Then Ross climbed down and gained the boat. He
was not a minute too soon, for the flames were drawing nearer and the
heat was becoming almost unbearable.

Placing Jolly in the stern-sheets, the lads stepped the mast and
hoisted sail. Nothing else was in sight, although the rumble of heavy
firing was still audible.

"I'll steer north," declared Ross, who had taken the helm, while Vernon
attended to the A.P.'s ugly wound. "If we are not picked up by one of
our own boats, we are almost bound to hit one of the Danish islands."

There was but little wind. What there was, blew from a couple of
points abaft the beam, so that the little craft was able to lie
comfortably upon her course.

At length Jolly opened his eyes. Somewhat to his companions' amusement
his first words were:

"Dash it all! Where did I leave my glasses? Hulloa! I've been
plugged. Where am I?"

He attempted to sit up, but promptly subsided upon the gratings in the
stern-sheets, and in a very short time he began to talk incoherently,
and finally dropped off into a fitful slumber.

The fog had now increased in density, so that it was no longer possible
to see more than a hundred yards ahead. Several vessels moving at high
speed passed within hailing distance, but no reply came to the lads'
shouts.

"There's a hail!" exclaimed Vernon.

Again came the sound of a human voice. It was a call for aid, and was
uttered in German.

"Steady!" cautioned Vernon, as Ross put the helm down. "We don't want
to run alongside a cargo of Huns."

"There's only one, I should imagine," replied his chum. "At any rate
we'll have a look. If there are too many, we'll sheer off."

Guided by the repeated calls for assistance, the midshipmen came in
sight of a disabled boat. It had been holed, and was kept afloat only
by some of its air-tanks which had escaped damage. The gunwales,
jagged by shell-fire, were showing only a few inches above the water.
The stern was almost awash, but the bows rose sufficiently high for the
forefoot to be seen. Crouching on the for'ard thwart was a German
officer. He was bareheaded. The coll