erceived
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
about their person in after-life. Sailors are superstitious in many
things, but particularly in this, and my caul was therefore as
much-respected by them as it hung round my neck, as it was by the
Indians when they thought it was what they call "magic" or "medicine."

"Well," said the Jolly Rover, "as you had so much fire, so much water,
and so much running, I think you won't be sorry to have a biscuit and
glass of grog, and then turn in; to-morrow we will talk to you."

I went down below, very glad to accept the offer, and as I was regaling
myself, who should come up to me but two of the Portuguese who had been
wrecked in the xebeque, and put on shore with me in th