swamped us. Ugh! What a
terrible brute it is! It laughs at bullets, and cares no more for
sinking a ship than I should for kicking over a stool."

"Is no one saved?"

"I can't tell any more than you; all I thought of was to swim after
you."

The situation was as terrible a one as can well be imagined.

Those on board the vessel were in too much trouble, if they were yet
living, to think of the perils of the others who had courted destruction
by going in the boat to attack the monster.

Nor would Captain Savage feel very friendly disposed toward them,
because it was Dr. Woddle's shot that caused the slumbering creature to
rush madly upon the vessel.

Mont began to calculate the chances of safety. If the ship had not
foundered the crew might lower another boat in the morning to search
for them. The sun would not rise for about eight hours. Could they
exist so long in the water without fainting or becoming cramped by the
sluggish circulation of the blood?

In vain he tried to pierce the dense darkness which surrounded them, for
now the moon had disappeared, and bad weather seemed imminent again.

About two o'clock in the morning our hero was seized with extreme
fatigue; his limbs were a prey to an agonizing cramp.

Stump put his arm around him, but he drew his breath with difficulty,
and evidently required all his strength for himself.

"Let me go, boy," said Mont; "save yourself."

"Certainly not," said Stump quickly. "We're not going down just yet."

At that moment the moon appeared again from under the edge of a thick
cloud which had concealed it for a time, and the surface of the sea
sparkled under its rays.

This fortunate light put new strength into the boys, and Mont searched
the horizon with eager, careful gaze.

He saw the ship, or what appeared to be her, about two miles off,
looking like a somber, inert mass, but there was no sign of a boat.

At first he was inclined to cry for help, but of what use would it have
been at that distance?

"Here, this way! Hi! help, help!" shouted Stump.

Was it one of those delusive sounds which the anxious mind sometimes
conjures up, or did an answer really come to the lad's cry for help?

"Did you hear anything?" asked Mont.

"Yes, I thought so," said Stump, and he began to cry out again.

"Help, help!"

This time there was no mistake. A human voice clearly responded through
the darkness.

Stump lifted himself as high out of the water as he could, and