as fast as we beat to windward."

The boat was put about, and once more headed in towards the land, which
was about two miles distant.

"Now McTavish, give us one of your Scotch songs," exclaimed Lieutenant
Jennings; "the `Laird of Cockpen,' or something of that sort."

McTavish, who though he had not much of a voice, contrived to make his
songs popular by the humour he threw into his tone, had sung about a
stave or so, and Norris and the rest of the party, with laughing
countenances, while listening to his song, forgot Mr Cherry's caution.

The boat had been gliding smoothly on, when suddenly over she heeled.
Norris, putting down the helm, shouted out--

"Let go the halyards!" but before a hand could reach the cleats her
gunwale was under water.

"We are going over," cried Norris. "Up to windward all of you." Saying
this he sprang to the weather side, and the rest followed his example:
though they could not right her, yet she went over so slowly that they
all had time to scramble up on her side before her canvas touched the
water. The sails being flattened aft assisted to support her, and
prevent her from going right over. For the first moment all believed
that she would sink and leave them alone on the surface. Fortunately,
however, her ballast consisted of breakers of water which, not being
secured, floated out.

"Come, at all events we have something to hold on to," said Tom, "and
now we must try and right the boat."

"Who has got a knife?"

Every person felt in his pockets, but no knife could be found. The
seamen, strange to say, had come away without theirs; they and the
midshipmen attempted to cast off the sheets, but the side of the boat to
which they were made fast being under water could not be reached. For
some time no one spoke; at the distance they were from the ship they
could not hope to have been seen.

"Is there no chance of our drifting on shore?" asked Norris at length.

"I am afraid not," answered Mr Houghton. "The current sets away from
the land, and we shall be carried farther and farther from it."

They looked anxiously around for a sail, on the chance that she might
pass near them. Not one was to be seen standing towards the land.
Again a desperate attempt was made to right the boat.

"If we had but a knife we could do it," cried Tom. "I will never again
step into a boat without one."

"We shall be fortunate if we have the opportunity," observed McTavish.
"There is but