h in the attempt, even if
the snow should escape being hove against us and stove in.

Again I ran up. All those on deck were now stretching out their hands
towards her. She came close enough for the voice of her captain--who
stood on the poop--to be heard through his speaking-trumpet.

"I'll stay by you during the night," he shouted. "The sea is going
down. In the morning I'll take you off,--please God."

The last words reached us as the stranger surged by, close under our
lee. She then hove-to at a safe distance. Eager eyes were turned
towards her before the light altogether faded away, and many looked as
if they were tempted to leap overboard and swim to her. Thirsty,
hungry, and weary as we were, we would gladly have knocked off baling;
but the captain wisely ordered us to keep at it as long as we remained
on board.

"You can't tell, my lads, when the bucketful will leak in that will send
her to the bottom," he said, and the men again turned to. He ordered,
however, the carpenter to patch up such of the boats as could be made
serviceable enough to float even for a short time, so that they might be
employed in carrying us aboard the snow. Without the masts the launch
could not be got off the deck, but we had three other boats fit to be
repaired; all the others had been completely knocked to pieces. No one
slept at all events during that night, for we were all kept spell and
spell at the pumps and buckets. The certainty that relief was at hand
if we kept afloat, inspired us with renewed strength. When morning
dawned the snow came as close as she could venture. Three of her boats
approached and pulled towards us. The order was now given for the men
to prepare for leaving the ship. Sentries were placed at the gangways
to prevent any crowding in till they received the order to go down the
side, but this was unnecessary. The few survivors of the sick and
wounded were first lowered into the boats, with the surgeons to attend
them. The boys and midshipmen were then ordered to go down the side,
the names of all being called in succession. As soon as the snow's
boats were filled and had pulled away, ours were lowered. Tom Pim and I
went, with Larry, in one of them, Nettleship having charge of her. I
looked up at the old ship. She seemed to be settling fast. The water
came out of the scuppers, showing that, according to the captain's
orders, the hands were still at the pumps. There was no hurry, yet al