"You're right," added Harry. "If the tide be still rising, Old Bill is under it by this time. I dare say his body will drift ashore before morning." They stood still, all three of them. They watched the water, as it rippled up against their limbs, taking note of its ebbing and flowing. They watched with eyes full of anxious solicitude. They continued this curious vigil for full twenty minutes. They would have patiently prolonged it still further had it been necessary. But it was not. No further observation was required, to convince them that the tidal current was still carried towards the shore; and that the water was yet deepening around them. The data thus obtained were sufficient to guide them to the solution of the sad problem. During that interval, while they were swimming and wading across the bay, the tide must have been continually on the increase. It must have risen at least a yard. A foot would be sufficient to have submerged the sailor, since he could not swim. There was but one conclusion to which they could come. Their companion must have been drowned. With heavy hearts they turned their faces towards the shore, thinking more of the sad fate of the sailor than their own future. Scarce had they proceeded a dozen steps when a shout heard from behind caused them to come to a sudden stop. "Avast there!" cried a voice that seemed to rise from out of the depths of the sea. "It's Bill!" exclaimed all three in the same breath. "'Old on, my hearties, if that's yerselves that I see!" continued the voice. "Arrah, 'old on there. I'm so tired wadin', I want a short spell to rest myself. Wait now, and I'll come to yez as soon as I can take a reef out of my tops'ls." The joy caused by this greeting, great as it was, was scarce equal to the surprise it inspired. They who heard it were for some seconds incredulous. The sound of the sailor's voice, well-known as it was, with something like the figure of a human being dimly seen through the uncertain mist that shadowed the surface of the water, was proof that he still lived; while, but the moment before, there appeared substantial proof that he must have gone to the bottom. Their incredulity even continued till more positive evidence to the contrary came before them, in the shape of the old man-o'-war's-man himself; who, rapidly splashing through the more shallow water, in a few seconds stood face to face with the three brave boys whom he had so lately urged to abandon him. "Bill, is it you?" cried all three in a breath. "Auch! and who else would yez expect it to be? Did yez take me for ould Neptune risin' hout of the say? Or did yez think I was a mare-maid? Gee mee a grip o' yer wee fists, ye bonny boys. Ole Bill warn't born to be drowned!" "But how did ye come, Bill? The tide's been rising ever since we left you." "Oh!" said Terence, "I see how it is; the bay isn't so deep after all: you've waded all the way."