inguishing the fire?"

"No; if you looked down below the forecastle it was like a furnace, and
though the pumps were at work, it was only to gain time while the boats
were lowered. The first lieutenant told off the men, and they went
down the side without one word, only shaking hands with those that were
left."

"Oh, Harry! what were you thinking of?" cried Blanche.

"Of the powder," said Harry.

Ethel thought there was more in that answer than met the ear, and that
Harry, at least, had thought of the powder to-night at church.

"Mr. Ernescliffe had the command of the second cutter. He asked to take
me with him; I was glad enough; and Owen--he is mate, you know--went
with us."

As to telling how he felt when he saw the good ship Alcestis blown to
fragments, that was past Harry, and all but Blanche were wise enough not
to ask. She had by way of answer, "Very glad to be safe out of her."

Nor was Harry willing to dwell on the subsequent days, when the
unclouded sun had been a cruel foe; and the insufficient stores of food
and water did, indeed, sustain life, but a life of extreme suffering.
What he told was of the kindness that strove to save him, as the
youngest, from all that could be spared him. "If I dropped asleep at the
bottom of the boat, I was sure to find some one shading me from the sun.
If there was an extra drop of water, they wanted me to have it."

"Tell me their names, Harry!" cried Dr. May. "If ever I meet one of
them--"

"But the storm, Harry, the storm?" asked Blanche. "Was that not
terrible?"

"Very comfortable at first, Blanche," was the answer. "Oh, that rain!"

"But when it grew so very bad?"

"We did not reck much what happened to us," said Harry. "It could not be
worse than starving. When we missed the others in the morning, most of
us thought them the best off."

Mary could not help coming round to kiss him, as if eyes alone were not
enough to satisfy her that here he was.

Dr. May shuddered, and went on reading, and Margaret drew Harry down to
her, and once more by looks craved for more minute tidings.

"All that you can think," murmured Harry; "the very life and soul of us
all--so kind, and yet discipline as perfect as on board. But don't now,
Margaret--"

The tone of the don't, the reddening cheek, liquid eye, and heaving
chest, told enough of what the lieutenant had been to one, at least, of
the desolate boat's crew.

"Oh, Harry, Harry! I can't bear it!" exclaimed Mary. "