d catching hold of the fore-chains,
hauled me up as the boat disappeared beneath our feet. We hung there
for a few seconds before we were discovered, though I caught sight of
several figures leaning over the side. I uttered a cry of sorrow as I
thought that my two friends were lost. In vain I looked down for them.
The next instant several willing hands assisted Martin and me on board.

"Oh, save Dick and Lancelot," I cried out. "Lower a boat; pick them up;
don't let them perish."

My heart bounded with joy when I heard Lancelot's voice.

"Here I am, safe and sound," he cried out, running forward and shaking
me by the hand, "thanks to our friends here, who hove me a rope just as
I was sinking."

"And Dick, where is Dick?" I said.

"The youngster is on board, but he got a knock on the head. He's coming
round though," said a voice from the afterpart of the ship.

Martin, Lancelot, and I hurried aft, where we found Dick lying on the
deck, supported by a seaman, who seemed as wet as he was. We were told
that the gallant fellow had fastened a rope round his waist, plunged
overboard and picked up Dick just as he was being washed by astern.
Dick quickly came to.

"Where is the boat!" he asked, lifting up his head.

"She's gone to the bottom," answered Lancelot.

"Where are we?"

"On board a ship."

"What ship, what ship?" asked Dick, still confused.

"That's more than I can say," answered Lancelot, "We shall soon know,
however."

CHAPTER FOUR.

ON BOARD HIS MAJESTY'S FRIGATE.

Scarcely were we on board the ship than the gale came down with greater
fury than before, so that the seamen being required to hand the sails
left us to ourselves. Two or three persons, however, gathered round us,
one of whom--the surgeon, I concluded--advised that we should be taken
below, and stripped of our wet clothes, for our teeth were chattering
with the cold.

Very thankful to be so treated, we had no time to ask questions before
we found ourselves in the officers' cabin; Dick and I being placed in
one bed, and Lancelot in another, while Martin was allowed to go forward
among the men, to obtain such assistance from them as they were inclined
to give.

After a short time some food and a cup of warm tea were brought us,
having partaken of which, thanks to its genial warmth, we soon fell
asleep.

Once I awoke when the rolling and pitching, the battering of the sea
against the sides, and the noises overhead, told m