“By the deep nine!” cried a bass voice.

The bell in the engine-room signaled the skipper’s order, and the ship felt her way once more.  Again there was silence, save for the throb of the engines and the grating of the steering-chain at intervals.

“I have not heard the cry again,” said Compton.

“Can you see anything over there—­follow the line of my finger—­ there, just by that gleam?”

“Yes; I think there is something.”

“Then I think the captain ought to know;” and Venning ran off first to Mr. Hume.

“Something afloat, eh?” and Mr. Home rose from his deck-chair.

“Some one in distress, I think,” They went on to the bridge, and Venning began his story; but the captain cut him short by wheeling round to the rail.

“Ahoy, there—­ahoy!”

A startling response came in a long, quivering wail out of the dark sea.

“By the lord,” muttered the captain, “what’s that?”

“Jackal,” said Mr. Hume.

“Impossible!  We are miles from the shore.”

“Jackal, sure enough.  Maybe sent adrift by a flood, and taken to a tree.”

The captain laughed.  “I thought it was a hoodoo at least.  Well, lad”—­turning to Venning—­“you don’t want me to pick up a creature like that?”

“I don’t think it is far away, sir.  I think I see a tree or boat, and if you would lower me over the bows and ease the vessel——­”

“Well?”

“Perhaps I could pick it up.”

“You are not afraid of being bitten?”

“I think it would know I meant it good.”

The skipper laughed good-humouredly.  “Well, you’re a plucky lad, and, at any rate, I’d not be losing time.”  He touched the bell, and motioned to the steersman.  The ship slowed down and came round.  “Mr. Bobbins, just sling this young gentleman over the port-bows, and have a light lowered.  Do you still stick to your bargain?”

Venning answered by sliding off the bridge and climbing up into the bows, where a knot of sailors had gathered at the gangway.  A rope was looped round his thigh, so as to give his arms play, and two men stood to pay him over and down.

“Here she is!” sang out the mate.

The bell rang out, “Stop her,” and Venning went over, catching the rope above his head with his left hand, and taking a turn round with his right foot.  There was a scraping sound against the side of the vessel.

“I’ve got hold,” he shouted.  “It’s a tree—­no, a boat.”  Then, “By Jove!”

“What is it?” cried several together, excited by the startled exclamation.

“Lower the light!” The lantern sank over the side, but those above could not see well because of the bulge of the hull.

“Now lower me.  I shall get in and make fast.”

“Take care!” cried Mr. Hume.

“Look out for the sharks, sir,” sang out a sailor.  “There’s one coming up.”

“Lower away, please—­quick!”