"It will be as much as she can do to stem the tide and hold her own,"
observed Mr James. "Let draw the fore-sheet, my lads."

Somehow or another I had a feeling which I could not surmount, that I
certainly had heard a faint shout; and although, admitting such to be
the case, there was little chance of being of service to any one, I felt
a reluctance to leave the spot, and as I walked the deck silent and
alone this feeling became insurmountable.

I remained on deck till the tide turned, and then, instead of taking
advantage of it so as to gain to the southward, I put the schooner's
head the other way, so as to keep as near as I could to the spot where I
heard the voice, reducing her sail so as just to stem the tide. I
cannot now account for my anxiety, which, under the circumstances, I
most certainly never should have felt, unless it was that Providence was
pleased to interpose on this occasion more directly than usual. I could
not leave the deck; I waited for daylight with great impatience, and as
the day dawned I had my telescope in my hand looking round the compass.

At last, as the sun rose from the fog on the horizon, something
attracted my eye, and I made it out to be the two masts of a vessel
which had sunk in about six fathoms of water. Still I could see nothing
except the masts. However, to make sure, I made sail on the schooner,
and stood towards them. A short tack enabled us to fetch, and in half
an hour we passed the wreck about a half-musket-shot to windward, when
we perceived an arm lifted up out of the water, and waved to us.

"There is somebody there," said I, "and I was right. Quickly, my lads;
fore-sheet to windward, and lower down the stern-boat."

This was done in a minute, and in a short time the boat returned,
bringing with them a lad about sixteen years old, whom they had found in
the water, clinging to the masts of the vessel. He was too much
exhausted to speak or move. He was put into bed, covered up with
blankets, and some warm spirits and water poured down his throat. We
then hoisted up the boat, and made sail upon the schooner, and I went
down below to breakfast, rejoicing that I had acted upon the impulse
which I had felt, and had thus been instrumental in saving the life of a
fellow-creature. A few minutes after he was put into bed the lad fell
into a sound sleep, which continued during the whole of the day. The
next morning he awoke greatly recovered, and very hungry, and as