inese, had European features.

"I am thankful you have fallen in with us, gentlemen," he said, in good
English, "for I don't know what would otherwise have become of this
craft or us."

"Of us! Is there any one besides yourself on board?" asked Jack.

"Yes, I have my wife with me--we were passengers on board; when the junk
was blown off the coast and lost her masts, the crew deserted in the
boat, leaving us to our fate."

"Your wife! Where is she?" asked Jack.

"She is below, sir," was the answer; "but she is a foreigner, young, and
timid, and was afraid to come on deck."

"What are you?--an Englishman?" inquired Jack.

"Well, as to that, I am more of an American, though I have been out in
these seas so long that I cannot say I belong to any nation. Still, I
have not forgotten my native tongue. I should be grateful if you would
take us in tow, or supply me with spars and canvas, so that I might find
my way back."

"That is more than you will be able to do, I suspect, with your craft
knocked about as she is, and probably leaking not a little, even with
the assistance of your wife," answered Jack. "As for taking you in tow,
that is out of the question--we should drag the bows out of her; but if
you will bring your wife and any property you possess on board, I can
answer for it that the captain will give you a passage to Hong-kong or
any other place at which we may touch where you desire to leave the
ship. You are a seaman, I presume, from your undertaking to sail back
the junk. What is your name, may I ask?" said Jack.

"Jonathan Jull, at your service."

"That name has a Yankee smack about it, certainly," observed Jack.
"Well, Mr Jull, I'll overhaul the craft, and report her condition to
the captain. He may possibly think fit to take her in tow, but I can
make no promises on the subject. In the mean time prepare your wife for
accompanying you on board."

While Jonathan Jull went into one of the after cabins, Jack and Tom,
with two men who had come on board, went round the junk. She had a
considerable amount of cargo on board, of a somewhat miscellaneous
character. Jack ordered the well to be sounded. Tom and one of the men
performed the operation, and reported three feet in the hold, a large
amount of water for a flat-bottomed craft. They had not long continued
their search when Tom exclaimed--

"Look here; these are suspicious-looking marks. I have already observed
others. They are evidently