had not strength to hold
it. Away he went, right over the wheel, knocking down the mate on the
other side; and the ship taking a heavy lurch, they both went into the
scuppers together. The ship breached-to, and our mainmast and mizenmast
went over the side."

"Do top that glim, Bill," said one of the men, in a tremulous voice.

Dick paused while the snuff was taken off the candle; and the water went
tap, tap, tap against the bends, with a most melancholy sound. I really
did feel rather queer myself.

Dick continued. "Well, all hands were on deck immediately, and it was
good two hours before we could clear the wreck, for the men were
disheartened. They had heard the loud _miaw_ when in the fore-peak, and
declared that it was close to them; and the passenger and Jim came out,
frightened out of their wits. They had heard the _miaw_, and said that
it was from under the cabin table. At last we were clear of the wreck,
and the wind roared louder than ever.

"The captain was a stout-hearted fellow, and as the men were collected
together under the bulwark, he said, `Well, this breeze will shorten our
distance, at any rate, and if it holds we shall soon be at Smyrna.'

"`We shall never see Smyrna!' replied the second mate, his teeth
chattering.

"`No, never!' cried the seamen.

"The captain sent Jim down for his rum-bottle, and gave every man a
stiff glass of liquor, and that made them feel more comfortable for a
time; when there was a sort of lull, and again the loud _miaw_ was
repeated.

"`There it is!' cried the men; but they hardly had time to say so, when
the ship was pooped with a tremendous sea washing away the stern and
quarter boats, and sending all the men swimming forward. So loaded was
the ship with water that she stopped, and appeared as if she was
settling down. At last she rolled heavy to port and discharged it, and
away we went before the wind, faster than ever. Well, there was some
talk among the seamen of throwing poor Jim overboard to appease the
ghost of the cat, for it was he who had thrown the cat overboard. But
the captain heard what the men were saying, and he swore that he would
knock the brains out of the first man who laid hold of the boy; and he
sent Jim below out of harm's way. Poor Jim! how bitterly he cried, poor
boy, when he heard what was going on.

"Well, it's a long lane that has no turning, and no gale lasts for ever:
the next day it moderated, and the day after the weat