ree miles off.
That she was a pirate vessel, I presumed. Should I go on board of her
or not? and if so, how was I to get on board? All her boats were up:
and I surmised that she had just left the river with the intention of
sailing as soon as there was any wind, for now it was calm. The river
ran out swiftly, and I thought I should be able to swim the distance
with the assistance I should obtain from the current, which swept down
right for her, and she was riding to its strength.

I was demurring. I had been perhaps two hours on the beach, waiting to
see if she might send a boat on shore, when, as I stood at the
river-side, still hesitating, I happened to turn round and perceived
three Indians coming down upon me as fast as they could. I hesitated
no longer, but plunged into the stream, and was swept out two hundred
yards before they arrived at the beach. I made for the schooner; and
the current ran out so fast, that in half an hour I was close to her.
I swam for her cable, which I clung to, and then shouted loudly. This
induced some of the crew to look over the bows, and they handed me a
bowling knot, into which I fixed myself, and was hauled on board.

I was dragged aft to give an account of myself, and I stated in few
words that I had been pursued by the Indians, and swam off to save my
life.

"Hav'n't we met before?" said a rough voice.

I looked, and saw the Jolly Rover, whom I had fallen in with on shore.
I said, "Yes; I was escaping from the Indians when I met you, and you
showed me the direction of the plantations."

"All's right," said he. "It's a true bill; and were those Indians
after you that we saw on the beach just now?"

"Yes," I replied; and then I stated how it was that they had attacked
our cabin, and how we had escaped.

"That was well done, and so you swam off three miles. Fire and water
won't hurt you; that's clear. You're just the man for us. What
thing-um-bob is this that you have hung round your neck?" said he,
taking up the leathern bag with the diamond in it.

"That," replied I--a sudden thought having struck me--"is my caul; I
was born with a caul, and I have always worn it, as it saves a man
from drowning."

"No wonder that you swam three miles, then," replied the man.

You must know, Madam, that some people are born with a membrane over
the face, which is termed a caul, and there has been a vulgar error
that such people can never be drowned, especially if they wear this
caul abo