e chance
of getting alongside altogether. With renewed efforts they again pulled
up. A rope was hove on board and secured to the bits, and by its
assistance they at length got alongside.

"Now, lads, up with you!" shouted the lieutenant.

The men caught hold of the ropes thrown into their outstretched hands.
The greater number sprang up the side like cats, but Morton, with the
right feeling that it is the officer's duty to see his men in safety
before seeking his own, hung back. Now the frigate rose on the side of
a sea, leaving the boat in the trough far below her, then in another
instant down she came striking the boat with a terrific crash. The side
was crushed in, and the water rushing over her, down she went. More
ropes were hove to those still on board. Morton caught hold of a rope
with his left hand, but, at the same time, a spar struck his right a
blow which rendered it powerless. He held on with all the energy of
despair, for he knew that if he let go he should be lost. A poor
fellow, one of his companions, was washed away close to him. His own
was an awful position. He had received a second blow from a fragment of
the boat. The sea was surging up round him. Should the ship roll over
he must be submerged, and would inevitably be torn from his hold. He
tried to cry out. The spray rushed into his mouth and almost choked
him. Already it was so dark that he feared no one would see him. He
believed that his last hour had come. The loud roar of waters was in
his ears; he was losing all consciousness, and in another instant would
have let go his hold, when his arm was grasped by a vice-like clutch,
and he found himself lifted upwards till he was safely deposited on
deck. He looked round to ascertain who had been his preserver. A tall
gaunt young man was standing and shaking the water from his jacket, but
just then an order was issued for all those who had been rescued from
the boat to muster aft.

Lanterns were brought, and no sooner did the light of one of them fall
on Mr Calder's countenance, than one of the lieutenants, who proved to
be the first of the ship, stepped forward, and grasped him warmly by the
hand.

"What, old ship, is it you?" he exclaimed, almost wringing his hand off,
and speaking rapidly, as if unable to restrain his feelings. "Where do
you come from? What has happened to you? Tell me all about it."

This Mr Calder briefly did, and warm and hearty was the reception he
me