ons the ship was receiving, warned
that no time was to be lost, if they would preserve their lives.

Morton was hurrying up with the rest, when he recollected the wounded
midshipman, Alfonse Gerardin.

"His countrymen won't help him, of that I am pretty certain, and I
cannot leave the poor fellow to perish," he exclaimed to Glover, who was
near him.

"I'll help you, whatever you do," answered Dicky Glover, who was as
ready to do a good deed as a mischievous one, if it was suggested to
him.

"So will I, Mr Morton," said a seaman who had kept by the two
midshipmen from the moment he had got his liberty, and had moreover
possessed himself of the capstan bar, to serve him as a trusty weapon in
case of need.

"Thank you, friend Truefitt," said Morton: "come along."

Ronald was well pleased to get such an ally as honest Job Truefitt, for
there was not among the crew of the "Thisbe" a better seaman or a more
trustworthy, better-hearted fellow.

While the rest were rushing on deck, Ronald and his companions made
their way along the deck to the sick-bay. Many of the wounded were
calling on their shipmates to come to their assistance, and uttering
imprecations fierce and terrible, when they found that they called in
vain.

Gerardin was attempting to get up, but his strength failed him, and he
lay back, his countenance betokening a proud resignation to his own
fate, and scorn at the terror of the wretches who surrounded him.

"What!" he exclaimed, when he saw Morton and Glover with Job Truefitt,
"have you Englishmen found time, amid all this confusion, to come and
look after a wounded wretch like me; an enemy too--who has been taught
with his utmost strength to hate the English?"

"We Englishmen have been taught to help our enemies in distress,
mounseer," observed Job Truefitt, as, without waiting a moment to ask
leave, he lifted the wounded lad on his shoulders. "There's no time for
palavering. Come along, sirs."

The midshipmen sprang on, helping Job to support his burden, and they
soon reached the upper-deck, when the scene of horror and confusion was
indescribable! Not without difficulty, and in great danger of being
washed off, they made their way to the after part of the quarter-deck,
where Mr Calder, with the other Englishmen, were assembled.

The ship had driven with her larboard side to the shore, and as she
heeled over they were partly sheltered from the force of the seas, which
dashed in arches of fo