and struggle. That's all right."

Then he lay down on the deck between the girls with his head against
the hatch, and holding the rope.

"Put your head on my shoulder, Jeanne, and I will put my arm round
you; I will hold Virginie the same way the other side. Hold tight
by me for a moment as we sink, I may have to use my arms to get
the hatch over our faces. Do not breathe while you are under the
water, for we shall, no doubt, go down with the lugger, although
I shall try to keep you afloat; when you are under the hatch you
will find you will float with your mouth well out of the water,
and will be able to breathe, the corks will keep you up."

"I understand, Harry; now let us pray until the time comes."

Shot after shot struck the lugger, then Harry felt her give a sudden
lurch. There was a wild cry and the next moment she went down stern
first. She was so nearly even with the water when she sank, that
there was less downward suck than Harry had expected, and striking
out with his feet his head was soon above the surface. The cord
had kept the hatch within a couple of feet of him, and with some
difficulty, owing to the buoyancy of the corks, he thrust himself
and the girls under it. The tarpaulin was old and rotten, and the
light penetrated in several places, and Harry could see that, in
the position in which they were lying, the faces of both girls were
above the water.

It was useless to speak for their ears were submerged; but a slight
motion from Jeanne responded to a pressure of his arm, and he knew