go down by the stern ladder into the boat, and when the waterman came
back shortly afterwards to haul his boat up, and perceived that it had
gone adrift, there was much alarm on my account. It was too dark to
send a boat after us that night, but the next morning the case was
reported to the admiral of the port, who directed a cutter to get under
weigh and look for us.

The cutter had kept close in shore for the first day, and it was on the
morning after I was picked up by the brig, that, in standing more out,
she had fallen in with the wherry, bottom up. This satisfied them that
we had perished in the rough night, and it was so reported to the
port-admiral and to Captain Delmar, who had just come down from London.

I slept soundly till the next morning, when I found that the wind had
fallen and that it was nearly calm. Peggy Pearson was on deck; she had
washed herself and smoothed out with an iron the ribbons of her bonnet,
and was really a very handsome young woman.

"Mr Keene," said she, "I didn't know your name before you told it to
the skipper here; you're in a pretty scrape. I don't know what Jim
Pearson will say when you go back, running away with his wife as you
have done. Don't you think I had better go back first, and smooth
things over."

"Oh! you laugh now," replied I; "but you didn't laugh the night we went
adrift."

"Because it was no laughing matter. I owe my life to you, and if I had
been adrift by myself, I should never have put my foot on shore again.
Do you know," said she to me, very solemnly, "I've made a vow--yes, a
vow to Heaven, that I'll leave off drinking; and I only hope I may have
strength given me to keep it."

"Can you keep it?" said I.

"I think I can; for when I reflect that I might have gone to my account
in that state, I really feel a horror of liquor. If James would only
give it up, I'm sure I could. I swear that I never will bring him any
more on board--that's settled. He may scold me, he may beat me (I don't
think he would do that, for he never has yet); but let him do what he
pleases, I never will; and if he keeps sober because he hasn't the means
of getting tipsy, I am sure that I shall keep my vow. You don't know
how I hate myself; and although I'm merry, it's only to prevent my
sitting down and crying like a child at my folly and wickedness in
yielding to temptation."

"I little thought to hear this from you. When I was with you in the
boat, I thought you a v