nd she stood towards the brig.

"Thank Heaven, there is no longer any doubt about it!" cried Tom.
"Rouse up, Billy, rouse up, my boy! We are all right! Here comes the
steamer to our assistance, and more than that, I'm very sure that she is
the _Empress_, or a craft so like her that it would be difficult to
distinguish one from the other."

Poor Billy could only raise his head and smile faintly, as he
ejaculated, "Thank Heaven, too!"

Tom was undoubtedly right. In a few minutes more the _Empress_ was
almost within hail, a boat was lowered, and with rapid strokes came
pulling towards them. Mr Norman, from whom they had last parted on the
coast of Papua, was in her, but he evidently did not recognise them,
supposing them to be part of the brig's crew.

"Slide down, and we will catch you," he cried out, as the boat pulled
close to the keel of the brig, the rigging preventing her approaching
the deck side.

"Billy shall go first," said Tom, and making a rope fast round their
messmate, he and Desmond lowered him down.

"Handsomely, handsomely!" cried the lieutenant, "or that boy's skin will
be torn off his back. Why! who have we here?" exclaimed Mr Norman in
astonishment, looking at Billy's haggard countenance and recognising him
rather by his faded and tattered uniform than by his features.

"Don't you know me, sir?" asked Billy, in a faint voice. He could say
no more.

"Bless my heart, is it you? and are those Rogers and Desmond?"

"Here we are, to answer for ourselves," said Tom, who, with Desmond, had
managed with the aid of the rope to get down close to the boat, into
which they were helped by the men, although in their weak state, so
overcome were they by the exertion they had made, that they could hardly
stand. They were handed into the stern sheets, and the boat then moving
on took off the other three men in the same fashion. Scarcely were they
dear of the brig than she righted, and as she did so began rapidly to
settle down.

The midshipmen and their companions were received with hearty
congratulations on board the _Empress_, by no one more so than by her
captain, who was truly thankful to get back his younger brother, about
whose fate he had long been intensely anxious. The _Orion_, which had
been astern, now came up, and Adair was informed that his nephew was
safe, although apparently in a precarious condition.

It was several days before the midshipmen could give an account of their
adventur