“Ihaveit。”hebrokeout，andranondeck。“Here，boys！”hecried，“wedidn’tcomehereontheeleventh；wecameinhereontheeveningofthesixth，andlayhereeversincebecalmed。Assoonasyou’vedonewiththesechests。”headded，“youcanturntoandrolloutbeefandwaterbreakers；it’lllookmoreshipshape——likeasifweweregettingreadyfortheboatvoyage。”
　　Andhewasbackagaininamoment，cookingthenewlog。
　　Goddedaal’swasthencarefullydestroyed，andahuntbeganfortheship’spapers。Ofalltheagoniesofthatbreathlessmorning，thiswasperhapsthemostpoignant。Hereandtherethetwomensearched，cursing，cannoningtogether，streamingwithheat，freezingwithterror。Newswasbawleddowntothemthattheshipwasindeedaman-of-war，thatshewascloseup，thatshewasloweringaboat；andstilltheysoughtinvain。Bywhataccidenttheymissedtheironboxwiththemoneyandaccounts，ishardtofancy；buttheydid。AndthevitaldocumentswerefoundatlastinthepocketofTrent’sshore-goingcoat，wherehehadleftthemwhenlasthecameonboard。
　　Wickssmiledforthefirsttimethatmorning。“Nonetoosoon。”
　　saidhe。“Andnowforit！Taketheseothersforme；I’mafraidI’llgetthemmixedifIkeepboth。”
　　“Whatarethey？”Carthewasked。
　　“They’retheKirkupandCurrencyLasspapers。”hereplied。
　　“PrayGodweneed’emagain！”
　　“Boat’sinsidethelagoon，sir。”haileddownMac，whosatbytheskylightdoingsentrywhiletheothersworked。
　　“Timewewereondeck，then，Mr。Goddedaal。”saidWicks。
　　Astheyturnedtoleavethecabin，thecanaryburstintopiercingsong。
　　“MyGod！”criedCarthew，withagulp，“wecan’tleavethatwretchedbirdtostarve。ItwaspoorGoddedaal’s。”
　　“Bringtheballythingalong！”criedthecaptain。
　　Andtheywentondeck。
　　Anuglybruteofamodernman-of-warlayjustwithoutthereef，nowquiteinert，nowgivingaflaportwowithherpropeller。
　　Nearerhand，andjustwithin，abigwhiteboatcameskimmingtothestrokeofmanyoars，herensignblowingatthestern。
　　“Onewordmore。”saidWicks，afterhehadtakeninthescene。
　　“Mac，you’vebeeninChinaports？Allright；thenyoucanspeakforyourself。TherestofyouIkeptonboardallthetimewewereinHongkong，hopingyouwoulddesert；butyoufooledmeandstucktothebrig。That’llmakeyourlyingcomeeasier。”
　　Theboatwasnowcloseathand；aboyinthesternsheetswastheonlyofficer，andapooroneplainly，forthemenweretalkingastheypulled。
　　“ThankGod，they’veonlysentakindofamiddy！”ejaculatedWicks。“Hereyou，Hardy，standfor’ard！I’llhavenodeckhandsonmyquarter-deck。”hecried，andthereproofbracedthewholecrewlikeacolddouche。
　　Theboatcamealongsidewithperfectneatness，andtheboyofficersteppedonboard，wherehewasrespectfullygreetedbyWicks。
　　“Youthemasterofthisship？”heasked。
　　“Yes，sir。”saidWicks。“Trentismyname，andthisistheFlyingScudofHull。”
　　“Youseemtohavegotintoamess。”saidtheofficer。
　　“Ifyou’llstepaftwithmehere，I’lltellyouallthereisofit。”
　　saidWicks。
　　“Why，man，you’reshaking！”criedtheofficer。
　　“Sowouldyou，perhaps，ifyouhadbeeninthesameberth。”
　　returnedWicks；andhetoldthewholestoryoftherottenwater，thelongcalm，thesquall，theseamendrowned；gliblyandhotly；talking，withhisheadinthelion’smouth，likeonepleadinginthedock。IheardthesametalefromthesamenarratorinthesalooninSanFrancisco；andeventhenhisbearingfilledmewithsuspicion。Buttheofficerwasnoobserver。
　　“Well，thecaptainisinnoendofahurry。”saidhe；“butIwasinstructedtogiveyoualltheassistanceinmypower，andsignalbackforanotherboatifmorehandswerenecessary。
　　WhatcanIdoforyou？”
　　“O，wewon’tkeepyounotime。”repliedWickscheerily。
　　“We’reallready，blessyou——men’schests，chronometer，papersandall。”
　　“Doyoumeantoleaveher？”criedtheofficer。“Sheseemstometolienicely；can’twegetyourshipoff？”
　　“Sowecould，andnomistake；buthowwe’retokeepherafloat’sanotherquestion。Herbowsisstovein。”repliedWicks。
　　Theofficercolouredtotheeyes。Hewasincompetentandknewhewas；thoughthewasalreadydetected，andfearedtoexposehimselfagain。Therewasnothingfurtherfromhismindthanthatthecaptainshoulddeceivehim；ifthecaptainwaspleased，why，sowashe。“Allright。”hesaid。“Tellyourmentogettheirchestsaboard。”
　　“Mr。Goddedaal，turnthehandstotogetthechestsaboard。”
　　saidWicks。
　　ThefourCurrencyLasseshadwaitedthewhileontenter-
　　hooks。Thiswelcomenewsbrokeuponthemlikethesunatmidnight；andHaddenburstintoastormoftears，sobbingaloudasheheaveduponthetackle。Buttheworkwentnonethelessbrisklyforward；chests，men，andbundlesweregotoverthesidewithalacrity；theboatwasshovedoff；itmovedoutofthelongshadowoftheFlyingScud，anditsbowswerepointedatthepassage。
　　Somuch，then，wasaccomplished。Theshamwreckhadpassedmuster；theywereclearofher，theyweresafeaway；andthewaterwidenedbetweenthemandherdamningevidences。
　　Ontheotherhand，theyweredrawingnearertotheshipofwar，whichmightverywellprovetobetheirprisonandahangman’scarttobearthemtothegallows——ofwhichtheyhadnotyetlearnedeitherwhenceshecameorwhithershewasbound；andthedoubtweighedupontheirheartlikemountains。
　　ItwasWickswhodidthetalking。ThesoundwassmallinCarthew’sears，likethevoicesofmenmilesaway，butthemeaningofeachwordstruckhometohimlikeabullet。“Whatdidyousayyourshipwas？”inquiredWicks。
　　“Tempest，don’tyouknow？”returnedtheofficer。
　　Don’tyouknow？Whatcouldthatmean？Perhapsnothing：
　　perhapsthattheshipshadmetalready。Wickstookhiscourageinbothhands。“Whereisshebound？”heasked。
　　“O，we’rejustlookinginatallthesemiserableislandshere。”
　　saidtheofficer。“ThenwebearupforSanFrancisco。”
　　“O，yes，you’refromChinaways，likeus？”pursuedWicks。
　　“HongKong。”saidtheofficer，andspatovertheside。
　　HongKong。Thenthegamewasup；assoonastheysetfootonboard，theywouldbeseized；thewreckwouldbeexamined，thebloodfound，thelagoonperhapsdredged，andthebodiesofthedeadwouldreappeartotestify。AnimpulsealmostincontrollablebadeCarthewrisefromthethwart，shriekoutaloud，andleapoverboard；itseemedsovainathingtodissemblelonger，todallywiththeinevitable，tospinoutsomehundredsecondsmoreofagonisedsuspense，withshameanddeaththusvisiblyapproaching。ButtheindomitableWickspersevered。Hisfacewaslikeaskull，hisvoicescarcerecognisable；thedullestofmenandofficersitseemedmusthaveremarkedthattelltalecountenanceandbrokenutterance。
　　Andstillhepersevered，bentuponcertitude。
　　“Niceplace，HongKong？”hesaid。
　　“I’msureIdon’tknow。”saidtheofficer。“Onlyadayandahalfthere；calledforordersandcamestraightonhere。Neverheardofsuchabeastlycruise。”AndhewentondescribingandlamentingtheuntowardfortunesoftheTempest。
　　ButWicksandCarthewheededhimnolonger。Theylaybackonthegunnel，breathingdeep，sunkinastuporofthebody：themindwithinstillnimblyandagreeablyatwork，measuringthepastdanger，exultinginthepresentrelief，numberingwithecstasytheirultimatechancesofescape。Forthevoyageintheman-of-wartheywerenowsafe；yetafewmoredaysofperil，activity，andpresenceofmindinSanFrancisco，andthewholehorridtalewasblottedout；andWicksagainbecameKirkup，andGoddedaalbecameCarthew——menbeyondallshotofpossiblesuspicion，menwhohadneverheardoftheFlyingScud，whohadneverbeeninsightofMidwayReef。
　　Sotheycamealongside，undermanycraningheadsofseamenandprojectingmouthsofguns；sotheyclimbedonboardsomnambulous，andlookedblindlyaboutthematthetallspars，thewhitedecks，andthecrowdingship’scompany，andheardmenasfromfaraway，andansweredthematrandom。
　　AndthenahandfellsoftlyonCarthew’sshoulder。
　　“Why，Norrie，oldchappie，wherehaveyoudroppedfrom？Alltheworld’sbeenlookingforyou。Don’tyouknowyou’vecomeintoyourkingdom？”
　　Heturned，beheldthefaceofhisoldschoolmateSebright，andfellunconsciousathisfeet。
　　Thedoctorwasattendinghim，awhilelater，inLieutenantSebright’scabin，whenhecametohimself。Heopenedhiseyes，lookedhardinthestrangeface，andspokewithakindofsolemnvigour。
　　“Brownmustgothesameroad。”hesaid；“nowornever。”Andthenpaused，andhisreasoncomingtohimwithmoreclearness，spokeagain：“WhatwasIsaying？WhereamI？
　　Whoareyou？”
　　“IamthedoctoroftheTempest。”wasthereply。“YouareinLieutenantSebright’sberth，andyoumaydismissallconcernfromyourmind。Yourtroublesareover，Mr。Carthew。”
　　“Whydoyoucallmethat？”heasked。“Ah，Iremember——
　　Sebrightknewme！O！”andhegroanedandshook。“SenddownWickstome；ImustseeWicksatonce！”hecried，andseizedthedoctor’swristwithunconsciousviolence。
　　“Allright。”saidthedoctor。“Let’smakeabargain。Youswallowdownthisdraught，andI’llgoandfetchWicks。”
　　Andhegavethewretchedmananopiatethatlaidhimoutwithintenminutesandinalllikelihoodpreservedhisreason。
　　Itwasthedoctor’snextbusinesstoattendtoMac；andhefoundoccasion，whileengageduponhisarm，tomakethemanrepeatthenamesoftherescuedcrew。Itwasnowtheturnofthecaptain，andthereisnodoubthewasnolongerthemanthatwehaveseen；suddenrelief，thesenseofperfectsafety，asquaremealandagoodglassofgrog，hadallcombinedtorelaxhisvigilanceanddepresshisenergy。
　　“Whenwasthisdone？”askedthedoctor，lookingatthewound。
　　“Morethanaweekago。”repliedWicks，thinkingsinglyofhislog。
　　“Hey？”criedthedoctor，andheraisedhishandandlookedthecaptainintheeyes。
　　“Idon’trememberexactly。”falteredWicks。
　　Andatthisremarkablefalsehood，thesuspicionsofthedoctorwereatoncequadrupled。
　　“Bytheway，whichofyouiscalledWicks？”heaskedeasily。
　　“What’sthat？”snappedthecaptain，fallingwhiteaspaper。
　　“Wicks。”repeatedthedoctor；“whichofyouishe？that’ssurelyaplainquestion。”
　　Wicksstareduponhisquestionerinsilence。
　　“WhichisBrown，then？”pursuedthedoctor。
　　“Whatareyoutalkingof？whatdoyoumeanbythis？”criedWicks，snatchinghishalf-bandagedhandaway，sothatthebloodsprinkledinthesurgeon’sface。
　　Hedidnottroubletoremoveit。Lookingstraightathisvictim，hepursuedhisquestions。“WhymustBrowngothesameway？”heasked。
　　Wicksfelltremblingonalocker。“Carthew’stoldyou。”hecried。
　　“No。”repliedthedoctor，“hehasnot。Butheandyoubetweenyouhavesetmethinking，andIthinkthere’ssomethingwrong。”
　　“Givemesomegrog。”saidWicks。“I’drathertellthanhaveyoufindout。I’mdamnedifit’shalfasbadaswhatanyonewouldthink。”
　　Andwiththehelpofacoupleofstronggrogs，thetragedyoftheFlyingScudwastoldforthefirsttime。
　　Itwasafortunateseriesofaccidentsthatbroughtthestorytothedoctor。Heunderstoodandpitiedthepositionofthesewretchedmen，andcamewhole-heartedlytotheirassistance。
　　HeandWicksandCarthewsosoonashewasrecoveredheldahundredcouncilsandpreparedapolicyforSanFrancisco。Itwashewhocertified“Goddedaal“unfittobemovedandsmuggledCarthewashoreundercloudofnight；itwashewhokeptWicks’swoundopenthathemightsignwithhislefthand；
　　hewhotookalltheirChilesilverandinthecourseofthefirstdaygotitconvertedforthemintoportablegold。Heusedhisinfluenceinthewardroomtokeepthetonguesoftheyoungofficersinorder，sothatCarthew’sidentificationwaskeptoutofthepapers。Andherenderedanotherserviceyetmoreimportant。HehadafriendinSanFrancisco，amillionaire；tothismanheprivatelypresentedCarthewasayounggentlemancomenewlyintoahugeestate，buttroubledwithJewdebtswhichhewastryingtosettleonthequiet。Themillionairecamereadilytohelp；anditwaswithhismoneythatthewreckergangwastobefought。Whatwashisname，outofathousandguesses？ItwasDouglasLonghurst。