"Yes, sir, and he was killed doing his duty. Perhaps if he'd remained among them villains, he'd have been led astray by them. It's best as it is, sir. I only hope you may all get safe to land." "And you too, Tom," added Frank, who with his two companions had joined them unperceived. "No, Mr Frank, I shall never see land--never see the sun set again, I expect. But I don't know that I'm sorry for that I'm an old man, sir, and my nevvy was the last of my family, and I couldn't have lived very long any way." "No," said Mr Lavie, "and you too have met your death in the discharge of your duty. When my time comes, I hope I may be able to say the same." "Ah, doctor, it's little good any on us can do in this world. It's well that there's some one better able to bear the load of our sins than we are! But I want to say a word or two, sir, while I can. I advised you, you'll remember, to run straight for the nearest point of the coast, which I judge is about eight hundred miles off. But I didn't know then where them pirates meant to take the _Hooghly_ to. Their officers only let it out last night over their drink. They were to make the mouth of the Congo river, where they've one of their settlements, or whatever they call them. Now, that happens to be just the point you'd be running for, and they'd be pretty sure to overhaul you before you reached it. You'd better now try to reach the Cape, sir. It is a long way off--a good fortnight's sail, I dare say, even with this wind. But there's food and water enough to last more than that time; and besides, you may fall in with an Indiaman." "We'll take your advice, you may be sure, Jennings." "I'm glad to hear that, sir. It makes my mind more easy. Make for the coast, Dr Lavie, but don't try for it north of Cape Frio--that's my advice, sir; and I know these latitudes pretty well by this time." "We'll take care, Jennings," said Warley. "And now, isn't there anything we can do for you?" "You can say a prayer or two with me, Mr Ernest," replied the old man feebly. "You can't do anything else, that I knows of." Warley complied, and all kneeling down, he repeated the Lord's Prayer, and one or two simple petitions for pardon and support, in which old Jennings feebly joined. Before the sun had risen high in the heavens his spirit had passed away. His body was then reverently committed to the deep, and the survivors, in silence and sorrow, sailed away from the spot. CHAPTER FOUR. A FOG--WRECKED--A CONSULTATION--SURVEY OF THE SHORE--A STRANGE SPECTACLE--THE FIRST NIGHT ON SHORE.