" he whispered; "for I feel as I have never
felt before. Walter, take care of Emily; never leave her. Think of
your dear mother and me sometimes." Then he turned his glance towards
the captain. "These, sir, will be orphans before many hours have
passed," he said, in a faltering voice. "You, perhaps, are a father,
and can feel for me. As a fellow-creature, you can do so. You have
been the means of preserving the lives of those children; watch over
them, and do what you can for them. They will tell you about
themselves. I cannot speak more."

While he was uttering these words, he seemed about to relapse into a
state of insensibility. His eye was growing dim. He stretched out his
hands, however, and took those of his children; and thus, almost without
uttering another word, his spirit passed away.

"We will leave your father now," said the surgeon; and made a sign to
the captain, who led the boy and girl out of the cabin.

The boy seemed to understand what had happened; but there was an
anxious, scared, and inquiring expression on the countenance of the
little girl, which showed that even now she was not certain that her
father had been taken from her.

Captain Davenport was a father, and a kind, affectionate one, and knew
how to sympathise with the bereaved children. He had been in the cabin
but a few minutes when a midshipman entered.

"She is sinking, sir!" he exclaimed.

Captain Davenport hurried on deck. The boy had caught the words, and
followed him. Just then Merlin uttered a low, mournful howl. They were
just in time to see the after-part of the dismasted ship, as, plunging
head first, she went down beneath the foaming billows.

"We were but just in time to save you, my lad," said the captain,
turning to the boy, whose hand Merlin was licking, as if to congratulate
him on his escape.

"Indeed you were, sir," answered the boy; "and we are very, very
grateful to you, and to that brave sailor who carried my father and
Emily out of the ship, and helped me into the boat. I want to thank him
more particularly, and so would my father; but oh, sir, do you think he
will soon recover out of that fearful swoon? Or do, do tell me, for I
did not like to ask you before my sister, is he--is he really--dead?"

The boy's voice dropped as he spoke.

"I fear, Walter, that he is dead," answered the captain. "But we will
do our best to comfort your little sister; and so, I am sure, will you.
You have reaso