d them that I would take as many
as I could. The commodore, who had been hearing all the reasons given
by the captain of the Leviathan for deserting her, at first tried to
dissuade me from going, but when he found that I persisted, in his usual
kind way he told me that I might take fifty men, and that he heartily
wished me success in my enterprise. By the time I had selected my crew
and got the boats in the water it was quite dark. My object was to try
and keep the ship afloat during the night, and in the morning to
endeavour to discover where the worst leaks were to be found. I had but
two boats, so that I could only take part of my crew at a time--the
boats were to return for the rest. We shoved off with the full
intention of saving the old ship. I felt sure I could do it. Nol
Grampus and Tom Rockets were with me, and all were men I knew I could
trust. The night was somewhat dark, and there was a good deal of sea
on, so that the danger we had to encounter was not small. As we drew
near the abandoned ship I saw that she was tumbling about and rolling in
a fearful manner. Even in daytime, when we could have watched her
movements and better calculated the proper moment to pull up alongside
and hook on, the risk would have been very great, and now it was
positively terrific. Now the ship came down with a roaring slush into
the sea, as if she was never coming up again, and then suddenly she rose
and away she rolled over on the other side, lifting her keel almost out
of the water. Still to go back was impossible--I could not bring myself
to do it. At every risk I determined to get on board. I watched
anxiously for the moment. She seemed to be rolling away from us, and I
calculated that we should have time to spring on board just as she
returned.

"Now, my lads, give way!" I sang out.

They did give way, poor fellows. A sea sent us closer up alongside than
I expected. Over again rolled the vast lumbering hull--down--right down
upon us it came. Oh, mercy! A cry of horror rose--shrieks for help.
The boat was dashed to fragments and pressed under the ship's bilge. I
found myself struggling in the waves with my poor fellows around me. I
made a desperate effort to reach the main-chains. Now I was driven
back, and all I could see was the dark hull of the old ship rolling
above me, and I seemed to be sinking down into total darkness. Then the
sea lifted me in its rough embrace just as I thought my last mome