Part 18 (1/2)

”No, no, this is dreadful,” groaned Mark; ”they are so far-off, but I can see the boat Yes, they are pulling hard now No; they have ceased rowing, and twoup now, and--too late--too late”

”Hurray!” came faintly fro tropical night had rendered the boat nearly invisible The cheer was echoed froain

”There, they have saved them, Mr Russell,” cried Mark excitedly

”Hah!” caave way beneath him, and he would have fallen if it had not been for the sudden action of Mark, who held the poor fellow's arms pressed down over the rail as he called for help

”What is it?” cried a firm voice from close at hand, and the captain strode up ”Ah! Mr Russell fainting Let hio, Mr Vandean I'll drop hi-chair forward, and lowered the feeble ently down

”There, he will soon come to,” said the captain ”He is too weak to be on deck”

”The sight of theupset him, sir”

”Of course, Mr Vandean It nearly upset ht to see our fellow-creatures losing their lives, and not to be able to help them Come, Russell, man, this will not do”

The lieutenant looked up at hily, as he unclosed his eyes

”Are they saved!” he said, faintly

”Thank God! Yes,” replied the captain; and just then a fresh cheer arose fro pulled steadily back; the cheer was answered, and soon after the boat hung from the davits, and Bob cried up excitedly to Mark,--”I say, I saved him this time, old chap”

Then followed a few stern words fro except by the older andto the first lieutenant, he said in Mark's hearing,--”Now comes the difficulty How am I to punish this black for the knife business?

He cannot understand a word that is said”

”No; it is difficult,” replied the first lieutenant; ”but it cannot be passed over”

”Thea fellow-creature drowning, and saved his life Well, that's a good trait in his character, Staples Black and savage though he is, the ood qualities I'm afraid it was a mistake to keep the two poor fellows on board”

”Hasn't turned out well so far, sir,” said the first lieutenant, gruffly ”There, sir, it's for you to settle about the punish must be done”

”The plus seems to me to balance the minus, Staples,” said the captain

”I want to do soes cannot understand”

Then to the athered below, ”Look here,pardon, sir,” came from forward

”Who's that?” said the captain, sternly ”How dare you interrupt!”

”Axing your pardon, sir, Joe Dance, sir, coxswain fust cutter”

”Well, what is it, sir?”

”I only wanted to say, sir, as I was down below, and I kep' on saying to the lads, sir, as was a teasing the niggers--”