en were last seen.

"Who is the poor fellow?" asked Tom of one of the crew.

"Our second mate. He has been queer for some time, and I don't expect
we shall find him."

This was painful intelligence. Tom felt it his duty to persevere. At
length they heard a cry. It came from the Sandwich Islander. They
could not see him, but they caught sight of a hen-coop, which assisted
them in directing their course. Just then Tom, who had taken the bow
oar, standing up to look out, saw two heads. "We shall be in time, even
now. Pull away!" he sang out.

The mate had apparently got hold of an oar.

"I see him," shouted Tom to the Sandwich Islander. "Wait another
minute, and we will take you on board;" and he pointed towards the mate.
They were not twelve fathoms from him, when a loud shriek escaped him,
and, letting go the oar, he threw up his arms and sank from sight. They
pulled round, still hoping that he might re-appear, but it was in vain.
The Sandwich Islander came swimming rapidly up to them, and without
waiting for assistance threw himself over the bows.

"A shark got him," he said; "and would have had me in another minute."

It was not without some danger of being swamped that the boat regained
the ship's side. Until the return of the captain and first mate the
ship was under the command of Mr Betts, the boatswain, who appeared to
be a rough hand; although Tom concluded that he was a good seaman, who
would act for the best, and endeavour to get up to the boats and take
the officers on board. Tom at once offered his and his companions'
services to work the ship. Indeed, she was so short-handed that without
their assistance she could with difficulty even be put about.

"I suppose those who are eating the owner's bread should work for the
owner," was the gruff answer, as if he declined the offer for himself.

This, however, mattered very little to Tom. As the wind increased he
felt more and more anxious for the fate of the absent ones. In order
not to miss them, it was necessary to make short boards, so that all
hands were kept constantly at work, putting the ship about every quarter
of an hour, while lanterns were hung over the weather side to show her
whereabouts should the boats have got clear of the whale. The gale
became stronger and stronger. The canvas was taken in, until the ship
was under closely reefed topsails. The sea got up more and more,
frequently breaking over her bows, so that it seeme