panion-way aiming at the boat containing
Jarette, which had sheered off after picking up their leader and another
man, while now the second boat hove in sight from under the bows, in
time for Mr Frewen to send a stinging charge of shot at her crew in
turn.

He kept up his practice, while in both boats the men pulled with all
their might to get out of range.

But our troubles did not seem over, for hardly had we grasped the fact
that the cook and three of the men had snatched at the opportunity to
escape from Jarette's rule, and join us in the defence of the ship, than
I saw that which made me shout--

"Fire!--fire!" for the great cloud of steam always rising was swept
suddenly towards the starboard side, and the vessel slowly careened over
in the same direction.

"Burnt through, and sinking," I groaned to myself, and then I felt
stunned, for Bob yelled out--

"Run to the wheel, Barney, lad. Keep her before the wind."

The sailor bounded to the ladder, and up on the poop-deck, to spin round
the spokes of the wheel; and the next minute, almost before I could
grasp what had happened, the sails, which had hung for days motionless,
had filled, and we were running free, leaving the two boats and their
occupants far behind.

"Thank God!" cried a voice behind me, and I turned to see that it was
Mr Frewen, who now ran to the entrance of the saloon, where I saw him
grasping Miss Denning's and her brother's hands, and I knew he was
saying "Saved!"

Directly after he was back with us, who were carefully lifting Mr
Brymer, while Mr Preddle lay so motionless that I was afraid he was
dead.

Mr Frewen dropped on one knee, and began to examine the mate, while I
watched him with intense eagerness, waiting to hear his words.

"It must have been a bad cartridge, or the pistol improperly loaded. It
did not pierce the cloth of his cap, and even the skin of the scalp is
not broken."

"Then it will not be fatal?" I said.

"Fatal?--no! There may be a little concussion of the brain. You had
better carry him into his cabin, my lads, out of the sun."

The cook and one of the men who had returned to their allegiance lifted
the mate carefully, and bore him toward the saloon, while Mr Frewen now
directed his attention to the naturalist.

"I'm not in fit trim for acting as surgeon, Dale," he said. "I'm
bubbling over with excitement; my nerves are all on the strain with the
struggle I have gone through. But we've won, my lad,