thing."

"I hope they do, Tom, for it makes me very uneasy."

"Course it do, sir. But now just look here, sir; there's nothing for
you to fear, so if you'll take my advice, you'll go and have three or
four hours' sleep below."

"What?"

"I mean it, sir. You can't keep on without rest, so go and have it.
Joe Dance and me'll keep the schooner steady on her course till you've
had your dowse, and then you come up and give us a turn below."

"I can't leave the deck, Tom."

"Yes you can, sir, and you must. What are we going to do if you run
yourself aground and break up? Orficers want rest like other folk.
Look here, sir; you're dead beat. Out, ain't you? Why, you warn't down
below an hour."

"Yes, I feel done up, Tom, but--"

"You can't do everything yourself, sir, and must get yourself fit to
keep going. Now look round, sir. There's Soup and Taters keeping
guard; shore's a mile away; light breeze sending us norrard; Joe Dance
at the wheel. Could you find a better time for a snooze?"

Mark hesitated. He knew that he could not hold out. It was within an
hour of sundown, and the blacks were lying about forward in restful
content; the schooner's sails were gently filled, and there was not a
cloud in the sky. No better opportunity could be found for a rest, and,
after giving strict commands to Tom Fillot to call him at eight bells,
he went below, bent over Mr Russell, and shudderingly satisfied himself
that Tom Fillot was right.

"It's horrible," he muttered; "but it may not mean death;" and, throwing
himself on a locker, he dropped off into a deep sleep almost instantly,
and then sprang to his feet directly after, as he imagined, roused up by
a tremendous shock, followed by a heavy thud; and he knew what was
coming then--to wit, the rush of water, as a wave deluged the schooner
from stem to stern, while all was so pitchy dark that he could not for
the moment make out where the door of the cabin lay.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

A RESPONSIBLE POSITION.

Confused and still half-steeped in sleep, Mark blundered about for a few
moments before he reached the door, and was then thrown back, for the
schooner heeled over, and then there was a tremendous bump, which made
her shiver.

"Mr Vandean, sir, quick! All hands on deck!" came in familiar tones,
as the lad struggled to the door once more, and then up through the
hatchway, to find the schooner on her beam ends rushing through the
water, which was foam