could see nothing that looked like a human being.

"That you, Tom?" he demanded.

A shriek of wild laughter was the answer to his question.

Glancing up among the beams, Dan Davis gave a gasp. He understood.

"A parrot! Hello, Tom, is that your name?" he questioned.

The parrot laughed shrilly.

"So you are the Tom I came down here to rescue, are you? Well, this is
a nice kettle of lobster! But you shall be rescued, just the same, Mr.
Thomas--Mr. Thomas, what's your other name?"

"Lubber," answered the bird of brilliant plumage.

Dan grabbed the cage. Searching hastily about, he found a skirt, which
he bound about the cage, knowing that the bird would surely be drowned
on the journey to the ship unless the cage were well protected. Tom
protested by sundry screeches and unseemly language, to all of which
Dan gave no heed.

"We must get out of here. The boat will get tired of waiting for us,
and we're not going to stay here and drown," said Dan.

The lad, having bound the cage to his satisfaction, ran up the
companionway. As he reached the deck a great wall of water swept over
him, a ton or more of it pouring down the open hatchway ere he could
get it closed. For a moment he held on desperately, unable to see or
hear, for the water that enveloped him.

The wave passed and Dan staggered toward the stern, holding to the rail
that was now half submerged under a foaming sea.

"Lifeboat, there!" he called as he neared the stern.

There was no response to his summons. Dan repeated his call, but his
voice sounded weak and feeble in the roar of the storm. At last he
reached the stern and, during a lull in the rush of water, peered over.
The cutter was not there. Running to the other side, he looked over,
but he saw nothing but a waste of tumbling sea.

For a moment the Battleship Boy stood clinging to the rail in a dazed
sort of a way. Then the truth dawned upon him.

"They have gone back to the ship without me," he groaned. "I have been
left on a sinking ship. Even if they discover my absence it will no
doubt be too late to come to my rescue before this old tub goes down.
Tom Lubber, it begins to look as if you and I were bound for Davy
Jones's Locker at a twenty-knot gait."

"Git out," jeered the parrot.

CHAPTER III

BOMBARDED BY BIG GUNS

Dan was cool under the dreadful situation in which he found himself.
His mind was clear and active now. He felt no sense of fear.

Glancing ab