ourse I could
not tell how or when that was to be, but I had so often and so long
dwelt on the subject that I began to consider my union with her as a
settled thing, that was to be a reality. Of one thing I was most
certain, that she fully returned the affection I had bestowed on her. I
pictured to myself how delightful it would be to bring her over to
England as my wife--to introduce her to my father and mother and my
relations, and to witness the admiration I was certain they would bestow
on her. However, I did not intend to trouble my readers with a minute
account of my own private thoughts and feelings, and yet, had I
neglected to speak again of Miss Carlyon, I might have been accused of
having heartlessly forgotten one for whom I had before expressed so
ardent an affection. Most of my hopes of the successful termination of
my love were based, it must be remembered, on the fortune which floated
within the ribs of the huge Leviathan, and then my feelings may well be
imagined, when, on the morning of the 24th of February, I saw a signal
of distress flying on board her. I instantly communicated the
circumstance to Captain Luttrell, who ordered all our boats to go to her
aid. What was the matter we could not tell. Some thought a fire might
have broken out among her cargo--others that she had sprung a leak. At
all events it was very evident that her demand for relief was urgent.
The boats were speedily lowered. Several of the merchantmen were
sending off theirs also, and away we pulled towards her as fast as we
could. I was the first on board. I found all the men with their bags
on deck, and the officers collected with traps of all sorts. I did not
see the captain and first lieutenant. The second lieutenant I knew, and
spoke to him.

"We have been holding a council of war, and it has been resolved to
abandon the ship, as there does not appear to be the slightest prospect
of being able to keep her afloat a day or perhaps an hour longer," he
remarked with a look in which I thought that there was some little
amount of shame mingled. "You see, it would not do to risk the lives of
the people, or our own either, on the mere chance of keeping the old
ship afloat a few days longer at most. The cargo they have put into her
is more than she can carry--that is very evident."

"Yes, indeed--that ought to have been known before?" I exclaimed,
stamping with my foot vehemently on the deck. I could not for the life
of