CHAPTER X .-- The Escape Of The "Dart.".
For fully ten minutes no one could tell whether the yacht would right herself or not.
Captain Sumner, aided by our hero and Jack, at length found the topgallant halyards, and lowered the sail in the peak.
We say found, for the darkness was intense.
Then the gallant little vessel, as if freed from an overpowering load, came up to her bracings.
Once more she flew with increased speed through the water.
A few seconds and the star-lit sky again appeared overhead, and the rolling smoke wreaths were left behind.
"Heavens!" cried the captain; "never in all my life have I seen the like.

What a death to have escaped!" As if exhausted with its own fury, the squall subsided as suddenly as it had sprung up.

The smoke gradually blew away.
And there, over the starboard quarter, some two miles distant, lay a long, low, black island.
"Look! look!" yelled Bob suddenly.
All eyes followed his outstretched hand.
There on the shore rested a familiar-looking boat, containing three figures--Mrs.Cromwell, Viola, and the madman.
Mrs.Cromwell and Viola were waving their hands.

Then, assured they were seen, both fell back unconscious.
As for the mad sailor, he never stirred.

He was dead.
It did not take the captain and Bob long to reach the women folks.