nd looked around
him.

He perceived the boat ready for launching, the provisions and water at
the gangway, the ship brought to the wind, and rolling slowly to the
heave of the sea; at last he saw Ready sitting down by Captain Osborn,
who was apparently dead. "What is all this, Ready?" inquired Seagrave.
"Are they going to leave the ship? have they killed Captain Osborn?"

"No, sir,--not quite so bad as that. Poor Captain Osborn was struck
down by the fall of the yard, and has been insensible ever since; but,
as to the other matter, I fear that is decided: you see they are
launching the boat."

"But my poor wife, she will never be able to go--she cannot move--she is
so ill!"

"I'm afraid, Mr Seagrave, that they have no idea of taking either you,
or your wife, or your children, with them."

"What! leave us here to perish! Merciful Heaven! how cruel--how
barbarous!"

"It is not kind, Mr Seagrave, but still you see it is the law of
nature. When it is a question of life, it is every one for himself, for
life is sweet: they are not more unkind than they would be to each
other, if there were too many for the boat to hold. I've seen all this
before in my time," replied Ready, gravely.

"My wife! my children!" cried Mr Seagrave, covering his face with his
hands. "But I will speak to them," continued he after a pause; "surely
they will listen to the dictates of humanity; at all events Mr
Mackintosh will have some power over them. Don't you think so, Ready?"

"Well, Mr Seagrave, if I must speak, I confess to you that there is not
a harder heart among them than that of Mr Mackintosh, and it's useless
speaking to him or any one of them; and you must not be too severe upon
them neither: the boat is small, and could not hold more people with the
provisions which they take with them--that is the fact. If they were to
take you and your family into the boat, it might be the cause of all
perishing together; if I thought otherwise I would try what I could do
to persuade them, but it is useless."

"What must be done, then, Ready?"

"We must put our trust in a merciful God, Mr Seagrave, who will dispose
of us as he thinks fit."

"We must? What! do not you go with them?"

"No, Mr Seagrave. I have been thinking about it this last hour, and I
have made up my mind to remain with you. They intend to take poor
Captain Osborn with them, and give him a chance, and have offered to
take me; but I shall stay here."

"To per