n the mainmast
swung round towards the wind till the light breeze caught the sails
aback, and brought them against the mast. The effect was to deaden the
headway of the ship.

"Avast bracing!" shouted the first lieutenant, when the yards on the
mainmast were about square.

In a few moments the onward progress of the Young America was entirely
checked, and she lay motionless on the sea. There were four other
vessels in the squadron, following the flag-ship, and each of them, in
its turn, hove to, or came up into the wind.

"Fourth cutters, clear away their boat!" continued the first
lieutenant, after he had received his order from the captain. "Mr.
Messenger will take charge of the boat."

The young officer indicated was the first midshipman, whose quarter
watch was then on duty.

"All the fourth cutters!" piped the boatswain's mate, as Messenger
crossed the deck to perform the duty assigned to him.

"He's alive!" shouted a dozen of the idlers on the rail, who had not
removed their gaze from the waif in the small boat.

"He isn't dead any more than I am!" added a juvenile tar, springing
into the main rigging, as if to demonstrate the amount of his own
vitality.

The waif in the bateau had produced this sudden change of sentiment,
and given this welcome relief to the crew of the Young America, by
rising from his reclining posture, and standing up in the water at the
bottom of his frail craft. He gazed with astonishment at the ship and
the other vessels of the squadron, and did not seem to realize where
he was.

"Avast, fourth cutters!" interposed the first lieutenant. "Belay,
all!"

If the waif was not dead, it was hardly necessary to lower a boat to
send to his relief; at least not till it appeared that he needed
assistance.

"Boat, ahoy!" shouted Ryder.

"On board the ship," replied the waif, in tones not at all sepulchral.

"What are you doing out here?" demanded the first lieutenant.

"Nothing," replied the waif.

"Will you come on board the ship?"

"Yes, if you will let me," added the stranger, as he picked up a
broken oar, which was floating in the water on the bottom of his boat.

"Yes, come on board," answered the first lieutenant, prompted by
Captain Cumberland, who was quite as much interested in the adventure
as any of his shipmates.

The waif, using the broken oar as a paddle, worked his water-logged
craft slowly towards the ship. The accommodation ladder was lowered
for his use, and