The men, encouraged by his words and example, resumed their labours, and again sent the water gushing through the scuppers. It was an anxious time; for after all I felt that the sail in sight might not prove to be the cutter, or she might be crossing our course and not see us. Our last remnant of food and water had been served out, with the exception of a biscuit, which I had kept for the little girl and her father; so that all hands were very hungry as well as fatigued. I had tightened my belt round my waist to serve me for my breakfast. I watched the vessel as she rose higher and higher above the horizon; and, to my great joy, I at length saw that she was, at all events, a large cutter, beating up towards us. I called Jack to look at her again. "She's the _Serpent_, and no mistake," he exclaimed. "She'll be down to us in another hour, if the wind holds. My doubt is if the ship will swim as long," he added in a whisper to me; "but we'll do our best, sir." "Let me know in time if the water gains much on us, that we may get the young lady and the gentleman into the boat," said I. "Ay, ay, sir," he answered, as he went forward, and with a loud cheer, resumed his labours. The minutes dragged slowly on; for, though I had no fear for our lives, I was anxious to get fresh hands to keep the ship afloat. "Is that little vessel yours?" asked Miss Marlow, pointing to the cutter as she approached. "Yes," said I. "I hope before long to take you on board her." "That will be very nice; for dear papa and I want to leave this dreadful ship. You will carry us home to Old England, will you!" she said. "If the cutter makes us out, I hope to get you on shore this evening or to-morrow," I replied. "But I am not quite certain that she sees us." She had just then tacked, and was apparently standing away from us. I watched her eagerly. Again she tacked, and I was certain she saw us. I steered towards her, and now, the breeze freshening, we rapidly neared each other. She stood on, and passing under our stern, kept alongside of us. "Hillo, D'Arcy, my boy, how did you get there?" hailed my uncle, as he recognised me at the helm. "Fell in with her, sir. Pray send some fresh hands, for we are sinking; and some prog, for we are starving," I shouted, in return.