e swift
dhow had already begun to disappear on the other side. Indeed, it was
evident that she was gaining rapidly on her pursuer, which would have
very little chance of catching her.

"That craft is an English brig-of-war," exclaimed Jerry, at length.
"Though she hasn't a chance of catching the slaver, she'll see us, I've
a hope, and before long we shall have some grub and water on board."

"There's no chance, I trust, of their passing us?" said Archie.

"No fear of that, sir," replied Jerry; "they keep too bright a look-out
on board. Depend on't, they've made us out before now."

The wind was again failing, and should it become calm, the brig might
not come up before dark. Still, if the canoe, as Jerry supposed, was
already seen, of course a look-out would be kept for her. For half an
hour or more, hopes and fears alternately predominated. "They've made
us out--no fear on that score," cried Jerry; "I saw the people on the
foc's'le waving to us." As he spoke, the brig shortened sail; a boat
was lowered, and, ere a minute had passed, she sheered alongside the
canoe. A midshipman and warrant-officer, with four hands, were in her.

"Bear a hand; lift the poor fellows on board carefully--sharp about it,"
cried the former. "We must not lose a moment; they seem very far gone."
Desmond and Archie were placed in the sternsheets, while even Jerry and
Sam could not, without the help of others, manage to crawl into the
boat.

The canoe was dropped astern, while the boat pulled back to the brig;
the whole manoeuvre, being properly executed, occupying but a very few
minutes. The midshipman, attending simply to the work in hand, had not
looked at the countenances of the people he had rescued. Just, however,
as the boat had hooked on, he cast his eyes at the face of one of his
companions, and then at the other. "Why, gunner," he exclaimed, "I do
believe that they are Gerald Desmond and Archie Gordon!"

"You're right, Tom," cried Gerald, who was not so far gone as to be
unable to speak; "and mighty glad I am to see you--only, as you love us,
get us some grub, or we shall be after hopping the twig."

"No fear about that, young gentleman," said Dick Needham, who was the
warrant-officer in the boat; "we'll have you on board in a quarter less
no time, and under care of the doctor; he'll soon bring you round,
though you mustn't be eating too much at first."

The midshipmen and their companions were speedily hoisted on b