atly modified the burning,
smarting sensation; and I experienced a feeling of by no means
unpleasant languor, which produced an almost irresistible repugnance to
move. I remembered, however, that the ship was now in my charge--
unpleasant as it might be I could now less than ever afford to neglect
my duty--so, though the effort produced a sudden giddiness and momentary
lapse into almost total insensibility, I staggered to my feet and
cautiously groped my way to the door of my berth, through which I passed
into the close and stuffy cabin, and from thence up the companion-way
and out on deck.

Here everything was so perfectly silent, save for the gentle lap and
gurgle of the water alongside, that I was for a moment startled into the
belief that the ship had been deserted; and it was so intensely dark
that I could see absolutely nothing. Glancing aft, however, I detected
a tiny glowing spark away in the neighbourhood of the taffrail, and at
the same moment I heard Courtenay's voice saying:

"Is that you, Mr O'Flaherty?"

"No," I responded, "it is I, Lascelles. What has become of the hands,
Courtenay?"

"They are below getting their suppers," he answered. "And I told them
that, when they had finished, they might turn in for an hour or two.
They must be pretty well done up with their hard day's work, and we can
do nothing more now until after half-flood. How are you feeling now,
old fellow? Sanderson tells me you got a very ugly clip over the head
to-day in our little boxing match with the felucca. It has been rather
an unfortunate business altogether--two killed and seven wounded at a
single broadside from only four guns is pretty hard lines."

"Do you mean to say that we have lost two men?" I exclaimed, for I had
not heard this before.

"Yes," was the answer. "Jones--that comical fellow who used to play the
violin on the forecastle during the dog-watches, and poor Tom Cotterel
have both lost the number of their mess; and there are five more in
their hammocks hurt more or less severely; though I believe O'Flaherty
and yourself are the worst sufferers in that respect."

I was greatly concerned to hear this; and more than ever regretted the
fool-hardihood--as I could not help thinking it--which had induced
O'Flaherty to rush headlong, as it were, into a lagoon so shallow that
there was scarcely water enough in it in the deepest part to float the
schooner, and abounding, moreover, as we had found to our cost,