MARTIN RATTLER. 45

mere wreck, had not the lynx-eye of Barney noticed
a dark object clinging to it.

“Lower away a boat, lads,” cried the Irishman,
springing overboard, and the words had _ scarcely
passed his lips when the water closed over his head.

The Firefly was hove to, a boat was lowered and
rowed towards Barney, whose strong voice guided his
shipmates towards him. In less than a quarter of an
hour the bold sailor and his young friend Martin
Rattler were safe on board, and the ship’s head was
again turned out to sea.

It was full half-an-hour before Martin was re-
stored to consciousness in the forecastle, to which his
deliverer had conveyed him.

“ Musha, lad, but ye’re booked for the blue wather
now, an’ no mistake!” said Barney, looking with an
expression of deep sympathy at the poor boy, who
sat staring before him quite speechless. “The cap-
ting “ll not let ye out o’ this ship till ye git to the
Gould Coast, or some sich place. He couldn’t turn
back av he wanted iver so much: but he doesn’t
want to, for he needs a smart lad like you, an’ he'll
keep you now, for sartin.”

Barney sat down by Martin’s side and stroked his
fair curls, as he sought in his own quaint fashion to

console him. But in vain. Martin grew quite des-