h your rope! ahoy! ahoy!"

By this time the ship had worn round, and was returning to pick us up.
Had I been alone in the water, as I afterwards ascertained, this
manoeuvre would not have been executed; or, at all events, but very
little pains would have been taken to rescue me. But Brace having
jumped overboard rendered it necessary that the ship should be put
about, and every effort made to recover him, as he was a man of too much
importance among the crew to be sacrificed with impunity. Neither mate
nor captain dared leave him to his fate; and, consequently, the orders
were given to "wear-ship."

Fortunately the breeze was light, and the sea not very rough; and as the
vessel passed near to where we were swimming, ropes were thrown out
which both of us were able to seize, and by means of which we were soon
hauled up, and stood once more safely upon deck.

The spite of my tormentors seemed to be satisfied for the time. I saw
nothing of any of them when I got aboard, nor during the remainder of
that day, as I was permitted to go below and remain in the forecastle
during the whole of the afternoon.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

Strange to say, I received somewhat better treatment after this
occurrence, though it was not from any remorse at what had happened, or
that either mate or captain had grown more humane or friendly. The
reason was very different. It was because both perceived that what they
had done had produced an unfavourable impression upon the crew. Many of
the men were friends and admirers of Brace, and, along with him,
disapproved altogether of the conduct of the officers, so that in the
forecastle and around the windlass there was a good deal of disaffected
talk after this event, often spoken loudly enough. Brace, by his
behaviour in leaping overboard to the rescue, had gained favour--for
true courage always finds admirers whether they be rude or refined--and
the number of Brace's friends was increased by it. I heard that he had
really interfered when I was being forced aloft, and had shouted out
contradictory orders to those of the mate. This accounted for the
confusion I had noticed on deck, and which was the result of several of
his friends endeavouring to restrain him, while others were joining him
in his appeal.

Both Captain and mate on the quarter-deck had heard all this, but
pretended not to notice it. Had it been any other man than Brace they
would have instantly put him in irons, or punish