but each time more faintly. Still he continued to listen for it
with a feeling of horror, and once or twice fancied that he heard it
rising above the turmoil of wind and waves. Long before he ceased to
listen in expectancy, the murderer's dead body lay tossing in that great
watery grave in which so many of the human race--innocent and guilty
alike--lie buried.

Ere long Tommy was called to renewed exertion and trial.

The tide happened to be rising when the schooner struck. While the
incidents above related were taking place, the "Butterfly" was being
dashed on the sand so violently, that her breaking up in the course of a
short time was a matter of certainty. Tommy knew this well, but he did
not give way to despair. He resolved not to part with his young life
without a struggle, and therefore cast about in his mind what was best
to be done.

His first idea was to construct a raft. He had just begun this
laborious work when the rising tide lifted the schooner over the
sand-bank, and sent her off into deep water. This raised Tommy's hopes
and spirits to an unnaturally high pitch; he trimmed the foresail--the
only one left--as well as he could, and then, seizing the tiller, kept
the vessel running straight before the wind.

Standing thus at the helm he began to reflect on his position, and the
reflection did not tend to comfort him. He was out in a gale on the
stormy sea, without companions, without compass to guide him, and
steering he knew not whither--possibly on rocks or shoals. This latter
idea induced him to attempt to lie-to till day-break, but the crippled
condition of the schooner rendered this impossible. There was nothing
for it, therefore, but to run before the gale.

In a short time his attention was attracted to a peculiar sound in the
hold. On examination he found that the vessel had sprung a leak, and
that the water was rising slowly but steadily. The poor boy's heart
sank, and for the first time his courage began to give way; but quickly
recovering himself he lashed the helm in position, and manfully set to
work at the pump. He was somewhat relieved to find that the leak was
small. In an hour he had pumped out nearly all the water. Then he
returned to the helm and rested there for an hour, at the end of which
the water in the hold had increased so much that he had to ply the pump
again.

The day broke while he was thus engaged, but the morning was so thick
that he could see no land.