"What for?" asked Terence. "Before touching dry land," suggested the thoughtful Colin, "suppose we decide what has been the fate of poor Old Bill." "How can we tell that?" interrogated the other two. "Stand still awhile; we shall soon see whether his head is yet above water." Harry and Terence consented to the proposal of their comrade, but without exactly comprehending its import. "What do you mean, Coley?" asked the impatient Hibernian. "To see if the tide's still rising," was the explanation given by the Scotch youth. "And what if it be?" demanded Terence. "Only, that if it be, we will never more see the old sailor in the land of the living. We may look for his lifeless corpse after it has been washed ashore." "Ah! I comprehend you," said Terence. "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 toward 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 the depths of the sea. "It's Bill!" exclaimed all three in the same breath. "'Old on my 'arties, 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."