med a dream the night the gale came on, as I lay in me
hammock; the ould mither--who's gone to glory these six years--came and
stood by me side, an' I saw her face as clearly as I see yours, an' says
she, `Tim, me son, I've come to wake you;' then says I, `Mither, what's
that for?' Says she, `I can wake ye well, although I cannot give ye
dacent burial.' Upon that she sit up such a howlin' I thought it would
be heard all along the deck. Says I, `Mither, just hold fast there, or
you'll be afther disturbin' the whole watch below.' But she wouldn't,
an' still howled on, jist as I mind th' women doin' in ould Ireland whin
I was a boy. Again I sung out, `Mither, if ye love me, hold your peace.
I don't want to be waked just now,' and as I uttered the words I heard
the boatswain pipe all hands on deck, when sure if the wind wasn't
shrieking, an' the blocks rattling, an' the masts groaning, showin' that
a dacent hurricane was blowin'. Me mither vanished immediately, an' I
tumbled up on deck, more asleep thin awake, thinkin' of what the good
soul had been saying to me."

Peter fell asleep while Pat was talking, and both in a brief time were
again summoned to take their spell at baling. All efforts to discover
the leak had been hitherto in vain. Peter went to the chief engineer.

"Pardon, sir, me tink find out de leak. If black Peter get drowned,
easily find better man to take him place."

"I shall be very glad if you do, Peter, for I suspect if the leak is not
found we shall all be drowned together," said the engineer. "What do
you propose doing?"

"Jus' dive down under de water, wid rope round him waist, an' have a
bright light held above where him go down. You see, sir, lantern no
burn under de water, or me take him down."

"You might possibly succeed; but I fear you will lose your life,"
answered the engineer. "But you shall try if you like."

"All right, ear," said Peter, "me try, no matter what happen."

The engineer reported to the captain the offer of the black. Adair
allowed him to make the attempt, and ordered the gunner to bring several
blue-lights, as well as a dozen ship's lanterns, and he, with his first
lieutenant, the chief engineer, the gunner, and boatswain, and three men
to hold the rope, went below, where Peter stood prepared for his
undertaking. The hatches overhead were taken off to allow the fumes of
the blue-lights to escape.

"Now," cried Peter, "me ready," and slipping into the water