Part 38 (1/2)

”Sure, they would not be after passing us, if they once get sight of the wreck,” said Desmond

”That's just what they may not happen to do,” answered Tory and worn out, was inclined to look on the dark side of things

The breeze increased, the stranger drew nearer and nearer Tom and Desmond were both of opinion that she was a ht the same The question was, however, whether she would pass the due west, and an object so low in the water as the hull of the brig noas, ht not be visible On she came, until she was about south-east of them, and as yet it was evident that those on board had not seen the wreck, though she herself was easily liding on, when her yards were braced up and she stood towards the brig

”Thank Heaven, there is no longer any doubt about it!” cried Toht! Here comes the steamer to our assistance, and more than that, I'm very sure that she is the _Empress_, or a craft so like her that it would be difficult to distinguish one from the other”

Poor Billy could only raise his head and smile faintly, as he ejaculated, ”Thank Heaven, too!”

Toht In a few minutes more the _Empress_ was almost within hail, a boat was lowered, and with rapid strokes ca towards them Mr Norman, from whom they had last parted on the coast of Papua, was in her, but he evidently did not recognise the's crew

”Slide down, and ill catch you,” he cried out, as the boat pulled close to the keel of the brig, the rigging preventing her approaching the deck side

”Billy shall go first,” said To a rope fast round their messmate, he and Desmond lowered him down

”Handsomely, handsomely!” cried the lieutenant, ”or that boy's skin will be torn off his back Why! who have we here?” exclaiard countenance and recognising him rather by his faded and tattered uniform than by his features

”Don't you know me, sir?” asked Billy, in a faint voice He could say no ers and Desmond?”

”Here we are, to answer for ourselves,” said Toed with the aid of the rope to get down close to the boat, into which they were helped by the h in their weak state, so overcome were they by the exertion they had made, that they could hardly stand They were handed into the stern sheets, and the boat thenon took off the other three men in the sa than she righted, and as she did so began rapidly to settle down

The midshi+pratulations on board the _Empress_, by no one et back his younger brother, about whose fate he had long been intensely anxious The _Orion_, which had been astern, now came up, and Adair was inforh apparently in a precarious condition

It was several days before the ive an account of their adventures When once they were able to use their tongues, they had very little rest, for every one was eager to knohat they had done and seen, and it ed that soe their hearers with travellers' tales

By the tih to conificent scenery of that superb harbour

Of their stay there, although full of interest to theiven They were received in the kindest way by the inhabitants, and spent soers' family

Their friends, Mr and Mrs Calvert, had several daughters, who contributed not a little to entlemen were compelled to keep their rooms, as it was considered that they had not sufficiently recovered to bear the excitement of society They were not allowed to starve, however A handso each other in glasses of light Australian wine, which they found very refreshi+ng, when the two captains entered the rooratulate you,” said Jack, as he handed two official-looking letters, the one to Tom and the other to Desers and Lieutenant Gerald Desmond

The envelopes contained their commissions

”Those papers, I suspect, will doelse,” said Jack

”Indeed they will, although they have been long enough in coet up and dance a jig forthwith,” exclaimed Desmond

”You'd better not, in case the ladies should arrive to congratulate you,” observed his uncle