nk below the surface. At length he saw several ships
approaching him. Again he shouted. It seemed to him that one was about
to run over him, and courageous as he was, he gave himself up for lost.
Leaving the spar, he swam off, hoping thus to avoid her. She must have
been hotly engaged, for her topmasts and all their rigging were hanging
over the side. As the ship passed by, he caught hold of the rigging,
and drawing himself up, found a firm footing. Though his wound pained
him considerably, he still had sufficient strength to climb on board,
not knowing as he did so whether he was to find himself among friends or
foes.

CHAPTER TEN.

Almost exhausted, pale as death, the blood flowing from his wound opened
by the exertions he had made, Wenlock Christison dropped down on the
deck of the stranger, not knowing whether he was to find himself on
board an English or Dutch ship. The condition of the ship showed that
she had been hotly engaged, for numbers of dead men lay about her
blood-stained decks. From their appearance, as the light of the
lanterns occasionally glanced on them, Wenlock at once saw that they
were Dutch. Dutch was among the languages with which he was acquainted,
having met many Hollanders in America.

"Who are you?" said an officer, who saw him come over the side.

"An Englishman, and one of the few survivors of the ill-fated ship which
blew up just now," he answered. "Well-nigh a thousand men who walked
her decks in health and strength this morning are now in eternity."

"You are indeed fortunate in escaping then," said the Dutch officer,
"and though we must consider you a prisoner, you will be treated with
due courtesy on board this ship. I see that you are wounded, and badly
it seems to me, so that you must be forthwith put under the surgeon's
care."

Wenlock thanked him, and supported by a couple of men was carried below.
After this he knew nothing of what happened to him, for scarcely had he
been placed on a bed than he fainted. When he came to consciousness he
found the surgeon ready to administer some medicine, soon after which he
fell asleep, nor did he awake again till daylight. He inquired eagerly
what had occurred.

"You must not talk much," said the surgeon; "but this I will tell you,
that we have had a very fierce engagement, and lost three of our
stoutest ships; while, if the truth is known, you English have not been
less sufferers. Depend on it, altogether between us,