Part 37 (2/2)

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

A RESPONSIBLE POSITION

Confused and still half-steeped in sleep, Mark blundered about for a few moments before he reached the door, and was then thrown back, for the schooner heeled over, and then there was a tremendous bump, which made her shi+ver

”Mr Vandean, sir, quick! All hands on deck!” caled to the door once h the hatchway, to find the schooner on her bea around the the deck, and ain upon an even keel

”Where are you, Tom Fillot?” shouted the midshi+pman

”Here, sir Wheel,” came back; and the nextto steady the vessel as she rode on through the surf

”Where are we?” shouted Mark, his voice sounding pitifully s the breakers,” cried Toh 'ee billow rose up before them, as if to crush the little vessel into ht over it, and then over another and another, for there was a brisk breeze from off the shore; and after a few lided into sh the rollers extended far enough out, and the schooner rose and fell as she sailed away north-west at a rapid rate

Not another word had been spoken, though all theto the bulwarks, and in the full expectation that the vessel would go to pieces next time she struck; but, now that the peril was past, dick Bannock was sent below to report on the water, while the rest rapidly rigged the puh, the young sailor came on deck to declare the schooner dry as a bone; and now to hide his own self-reproach, Mark turned to the o below,” he said to himself; land then aloud, ”Hoas this, Fillot? Who was at the wheel?”

”Me, sir,” said the cutter's coxswain ”Me it were, and I don't want no one else to be bla to the watch, and that them blacks was--them blacks was--therily ”What do you mean, man?”

”Dunno, sir--dunno, I'o proper, sir I was standing there by the wheel one h, and the next minute as--was ashore with the breakers all around”

”Why, you went to sleep!” roared Mark ”_You_! in charge of the wheel, went to sleep!”

”Nay, sir I never went to sleep I was steering, and them blacks was--them blacks was--the o' therowled Toht about his htn't to ha' let hiht not, you o below”

”Nay, don't say that, sir, 'cause it was your dooty to Fact is, sir, as all so knocked about in the upper works that there ain't a ot it bad next to Mr Russell, sir, only we thought him so much better”

”Yes, I'ain, et over it about the with that there wheel?” cried To hi the spokes first in one direction and then in another in a ered for a few steps, and then sat down on the wet deck to hold his head with both hands and rock it to and fro

”Want to send us ashore arowled Fillot

”Nay,in o Theet 'eently ”You'll be better after a good long sleep”

”Sleep, sir? No, I can't sleep Who's to take my trick at the wheel?

Point or two more, sir; and, Tom Fillot lad, as it about them blacks?”