e now, save the ripple made by the boat in going
through the water, which it did at a fairly rapid rate, seeing how it
was submerged; but the wind having filled the portion of the sail,
seemed to be raising it more and more from where it lay in the water,
and as a natural consequence the more surface was raised and filled, the
more rapidly the other loose portion was dragged up, distended, and drew
the boat along.

For a full hour no one spoke. The travellers were divided by the Greek
and his men, who held the post of vantage, and there was a growing
feeling in every breast that if any attempt were made to get into a
better position, the enemy would be roused to action, and perhaps thrust
them from their precarious hold into the sea.

By degrees Lawrence began to get a clear understanding of what had
happened, and as far as he could make out the suspicions of Yussuf had
been quite correct. The Greek and his men, for purposes of robbery, had
made an attack during the night when all were asleep, and in the midst
of the struggle one of the terrible squalls, whose threatenings they had
not read on the previous evening, had suddenly struck and capsized the
boat, to which they were now desperately clinging for life.

Lawrence felt too much numbed to speak to Yussuf, or even to shout to
the other end of the boat, where the professor was clinging, and his
companion was too intent upon holding him in his position to care to
make any remarks.

The breeze blew very coldly, and the lad knew that if it increased to
any great extent, and the waves rose, they must all be swept off; but
the wind showed more disposition to lull than increase, the sail napping
and sinking once, but only to fill again and bear them steadily on. For
the squall had exhausted its violence; the intense heat had passed, and
the sea rapidly grew more placid as they were borne along.

There was something strange and terrible, and sufficient to appal a
heart stronger than that of a boy who had suffered from a long and
severe illness. The darkness seemed to float as it were in a thick
transparent body upon the surface of the sea, while far above the stars
shone out clearly and spangled the sky with points of gold.

Where were they being borne? What was to be the end of it all? Were
they to cling there for an hour--two hours, and then slip off into the
sea?

It was very terrible, and as he grew cold, a strange sensation of
reckless despair began to op