"Then the ship hasn't sunk," I said, as I looked at her about five hundred yards away, with a pillar of smoke rising out of her hold, and the masts, yards, and sails all in their places intact. "Yes; she still floats," said Mr Brymer, quietly; "and we are going closer to see how she stands." "Where are Jarette and the men?" "They rowed away to the east," replied Mr Brymer, "and are quite out of sight." "Then we can talk aloud," I cried. "Ay, and shout if you like." It was morning, and there were signs of the sun being just about to roll up above the smooth sea, as the men gently dipped their oars so as not: to waken the sleepers, and the boat began to move softly toward the ship. "It is a puzzle to me that she has not gone down, Dale," said Mr Brymer, in a low voice. "That explosion was enough to drive out her sides, as well as rip up her deck; and I am beginning to think that after all she may float." "But she is on fire still," I said; "and though burning slowly, the fire must be eating its way through the bottom." "Perhaps not, my lad," he replied. "There was an immense amount of cargo solidly stowed below, and it may be only that which is burning." "But you will not venture to go on board?" I said. "Why not, my lad?" "She may suddenly sink." "She does not look now as if she would; at all events not during this calm. Yes; I am going on board, and you may come too if you like." I looked at him wonderingly, and felt a strange shrinking; but I fancied that I could detect a faint smile at the corner of his lip, and this touched me home, and made me speak at once. "Very well," I said. "I'll go with you, sir." "That's right, my lad," he said, laying his hand on my shoulder. "Why, Dale, you will be chief mate of some ship, young as you are, almost before I get to be captain. But we won't waste time passing compliments. What should you say if we find that the old ship is strong enough to carry us into port?" "Oh, it is impossible," I cried. "Not so impossible perhaps after all; but we are getting near, and we'll see." "But suppose she is so near sinking that the addition of our weight proves to be enough to make her begin settling down?" "Well, I should be greatly surprised if it did," he said with a smile. "But we'll be on the safe side. As soon as we mount on deck through the cabin-window, the boat shall be backed out of the way of danger, and our first task shall be to cut loose a couple of the life-buoys. Then, if the ship drags us down, we shall be sure to rise again and float." I could not help a shudder at the idea of being dragged down in such a horrible vortex, perhaps to be entangled in some part of the rigging, and never rise again; and seeing what I was thinking, Mr Brymer laughed.