he weather which I ought to have done. In a
tropical climate, especially, a seaman cannot be too careful--the
changes are so very sudden. I had gone below to dinner, that meal
consisting of some cold salt beef and hard biscuit, washed down with
rum-and-water drunk out of a tin cup. I had been off the deck rather
more than half an hour, and was just putting my head up the
companion-hatch, when I heard Jack Stretcher sing out, "Let go the
fore-sheet!--down with the helm!--down with the--"

Before he could finish the sentence, there came the rushing sound of a
heavy squall. Down bent the schooner to its fury--over, over she went.
To spring on deck and to clamber up to the weather-bulwarks was the work
of a moment. Still the vessel rose not: the helm had lost its power;
the sheets remained fast; her sails reached the water.

"She's gone!--she's gone!" shouted my crew.

I still had a faint hope she might right herself again; but when she
made the attempt, the furious wind beat her back, the sea washed over
her sails, and in another moment she turned completely over. I can
scarcely describe my sensations. I had no time, I fancy, to experience
any; at all events, I do not remember what they were. I never lost
hope; for, bad as things were, I did not expect to be drowned. In the
meantime I had clambered to the outside of the bulwarks.

"Give me your hand here, sir!" I heard Jack Stretcher sing out, and
looking up, I saw that he was hanging on to the main-chains. With his
assistance, as the vessel went over, I managed to climb up on her keel,
and there we together sat for the moment in comparative security. Like
a true sailor, he had caught hold of a rope, and brought the end up with
him. Our first thought was to look out for our shipmates. One had,
unhappily, been below; the other two had been washed off the deck. They
were, however, supporting themselves in the water, at no great distance
from the vessel. When they saw us they shouted to us to help them, for
neither of them were good swimmers.

"Keep up, my lads!" cried Jack, in return. "Get a little nearer, and
I'll lend you a hand."

Meantime he was hauling in on the rope, and coiling it up ready to heave
to them.

Just then I saw something dark moving under the water close astern of
the vessel. Jack saw it also, as I guessed by the glance of his eye.

"What's that!" I asked, a thrilling sensation of horror creeping over
me, for I knew too well.