as he put his
left arm about the terror-stricken child.

Whether the little fellow really understood or was paralysed by fright
he certainly obeyed. And well was it for them both that he did, for
having cleared the brine from his eyes and got a good look at the
_Bonnie Scotland_, Donald realised with a sinking of heart that many
minutes must elapse before they could be rescued. The ship had already
been brought up into the wind, and efforts were being made to lower a
boat; but in the meantime his helpless burden was becoming heavier and
heavier.

CHAPTER IV.

A RESCUE AND A RETREAT.

Well was it for both Donalblane and the child that all those on board
the _Bonnie Scotland_ did not lose their heads so completely as the
young fellow whose foolish action had caused the trouble.

Among the first to take in the situation was William Paterson, and
instinctively he looked about him for something to throw over after the
brave boy which might serve to buoy him up until help reached him. As
it happened, some one had brought on deck an empty wooden chest to
serve for a seat.

"The very thing!" exclaimed Mr. Paterson when his eye fell upon it,
and, without pausing to ask permission, he lifted it up and flung it
over the bulwarks.

It fell not far from where Donald struck the water, and, although he
did not see it at first, it presently attracted his attention.

"Eh! what's that?" he asked himself, as the black thing bobbed up and
down on the waves. For a moment he feared it might be the back of a
shark coming to the attack, but on a second look fear gave way to joy.
"It's a box!" he cried, "and it will keep us up, if I can only get to
it."

The child lay like a log, whimpering a little when the water splashed
in his face; and it seemed to demand all Donald's strength just to keep
from sinking, so that he did not see how he was to reach the chest,
which was at least twenty yards distant.

"Wae's me!" he groaned, "but I'm near spent, and if I canna lay hold of
that box, I maun droon."

Happily the wind was blowing towards him, and, although he could not
make much progress against it, the chest was helped by it in his
direction, so that, just when he thought he could keep up no longer, it
bobbed within his reach, and, with a sigh of unutterable relief, he
laid hold of it.

"Noo then, my bairnie, just get atop o' that," he said cheeringly, as
he placed the child upon the chest, and held him there that he mi