find a flag.' The drogher's ensign was in an after-locker. We soon
made it fast to the spar, which we then set up. By this time we could
see that the stranger was a brig, and unless she altered her course that
she would not pass very far from us. On she quickly came; cat's-paws
were already playing over the smooth water; presently the breeze itself
struck our cheeks. How cool and pleasant it felt; hunger and thirst
were forgotten. The midshipmen tried to shout--their hollow voices
showed how much they had suffered. I wasn't quite so happy as they
were, for it seemed to me that the brig would pass not much short of a
mile from us, and that we might not after all be seen. I couldn't help
saying so.

"`Sooner than that I'll swim off to her,' says Mr Rogers.

"`You forget the sharks, sir,' I answered.

"Just then the brig, altering her course, stood directly for us. We
were seen; of that there could be no doubt. We all stood up, and waved
and shouted at the top of our voices; even Spider, who sprang up on the
shoulders of Mr Rogers, seemed to understand that there was something
in the wind, and chattered and grinned with delight.

"The brig was a large, rakish craft, with a black hull, and as I looked
at her I had some doubts about her character. It struck me, indeed,
that she was the same wicked-looking vessel I had seen come into English
Harbour the day we sailed in the drogher. However, we couldn't be worse
off aboard her than we were, and I couldn't suppose that any human
beings would leave us to perish. Before long she let fly her
topgallant-sails and royals, clewed up her topsails and courses, and a
boat was lowered, which pulled towards us.

"`We must not leave our change of clothes behind us,' says Mr Gordon.
`My carpet-bag is in the starboard berth.'

"`I'll get the bags for you, young gentlemen,' says I, for I did not
like to trust any of them below again, for fear of accidents. I jumped
down as I said this, and by the time, after groping about for them, I
had got hold of the three bags, the boat was alongside.

"`Jump in, my lads,' sung out the mate in charge of her; `we have no
time to stop.'

"The young gentlemen and Master Spider had scrambled down into her. `We
are not going without Needham, though,' they all sang out together, just
as I got my head up the companion hatch.

"`What, is there another of you?' said the mate. `Be smart, my man, or
I must leave you behind.'

"`Thank yo