they were keeping their eyes open,
and young Alick paid frequent visits to the forecastle, sent by Tom for
the same purpose. The engines were working, though not in so
satisfactory a manner as was desirable. Alick was forward, when his
sharp eyes discovered an object almost ahead, though slightly on the
starboard bow.

"What's that?" he asked, pointing it out to Tim Nolan, who was on the
watch. "A boat, a raft, or a sunken vessel?"

"It looks to me like a raft, and we must starboard the helm if we don't
want to run into it," said Tim.

"A raft on the starboard bow!" shouted Alick, in his clear voice.

"Starboard the helm!"

"Starboard it is," was the answer, and presently what looked like a
hen-coop and a grating with a few spars lashed together, came in sight,
and an object, evidently a human being, lying on it, but whether alive
or dead could not at once be ascertained. Presently, however, as the
ship was abreast of the raft, a man rose on his knees and waved his
hand, while he shouted out, "Ship, ahoy!" His voice sounded hollow and
shrill; he apparently supposed that he had not been seen. Tom
immediately ordered the engines to be stopped, and a boat to be lowered,
but before this was done she had got a considerable distance from the
raft. Another cry escaped the forlorn occupant of the raft, as if he
fancied he was to be left to his fate. Tom hailed him, telling him that
assistance would be sent. In a few minutes a boat was pulling as fast
as the crew, with sturdy strokes--eager to rescue a fellow-creature--
could drive her through the water. Alick had jumped into the boat,
which he steered carefully up to the raft. No voice was heard as they
approached. The poor man, overcome with the thought that he had been
deserted, had apparently fainted or sunk down again from weakness. At
first Alick thought that he was not there, but his form was seen
stretched out at full length on the frail raft.

"Look out not to capsize it!" sang out Alick to his men, two of whom
were about to spring on the raft. "Let one at a time get on it, and
lift the man carefully into the boat."

His orders were obeyed, the man was got on board and passed along to the
stern sheets, where he was laid with his head on a flag, which happened
to be in the boat. Alick pulled back as hard as possible, that the
stranger might be placed under charge of the doctor. The poor man
breathed, and that was all. Alick was afraid that he mig