say, "Good!"--snatched the
glass, brought it to bear upon the two black specks, and then stood
motionless, while all present waited breathless for the lowering of the
glass again, and the mate's first words.

For we hoped against hope. The boats might be two sent from some
invisible ship to our aid.

All such thoughts were swept away as the mate lowered his glass and
nearly threw it to me.

"He's right," he said calmly. "They are our boats and men. They must
have been somewhere near, and seen the light rising up from the ship,
and come back to see what it means."

"Then all is lost!" said Mr Denning, wildly, as he seized his sister's
hand.

"Oh, no," replied Mr Brymer, coolly, "by no means. Miss Denning,
kindly see what you can do in the way of breakfast for us. Those men
cannot be here under an hour, and we shall all be faint. Cheer up.
They're not on board yet."

The next minute he was on the main-deck, giving his orders.

"They can't board us," he said, "but they can cut that boat adrift, and
carry her off with all those provisions on board. Now, Mr Frewen, you
will help us. Mr Preddle, be ready to come and haul when you are
asked, but in the meantime I leave the arms to you. See that they are
all loaded and laid ready on the saloon-table, and with the ammunition
to hand."

"Yes, I'll do that," he said eagerly; and he was moving off.

"Stop," cried Mr Brymer. "There is a small keg of powder in the
cable-tier, get that in the saloon too; and in the locker in my cabin
you'll find some big cartridges and shot. Everything is there. Do you
think you can load and prime the cannon?"

He pointed as he spoke to the small brass gun, used for signalling when
going into port. "I never loaded a big one," said Mr Preddle, "but I
used to have a brass one when I was a boy, and I've loaded and fired
that."

"It is precisely the same, sir. Have it ready, and a poker in the
galley red-hot. Bah! we have no fire."

"Wrong, sir. Stove's going, and the kettle nearly on the bile," growled
Dumlow, who had limped up.

"Bravo!" cried the mate. "They have not taken us yet. Off with you,
Mr Preddle. Now, Hampton, we must either get that boat on board, or
save all we can, and then she must be stove in."

"Which would be a pity, sir," said Bob Hampton. "She's heavy, and we're
few, but I think if you'll help get out all you can from her,
water-breakers and sech, I can slew round the yard, and rig up tackle as