and then
had a look at the glass. It had risen two degrees. Still the sea ran
very high. Jerry and I went at last on deck, followed by Surley. The
captain and officers were there, for they had resolved to try and bring
the ship to; as she was running a long way out of her course. This,
after a time, was done, when the wind lulled, under a close-reefed
fore-topsail. We rode after this much more pleasantly, and then the sea
began to go down, and once more we could move about the deck without
danger of being washed overboard.

"All hands make sail!" was at length the cheering cry, just as the sun
had set, as the poets say, in his ocean bed. We sprang aloft--Jerry and
I racing who should be first up on the yard-arm. Surley looked as if he
would like to follow. Jerry beat me. The ship was still rolling
heavily in the swell after the gale. He was springing out towards the
yard-arm, laughing gaily at his success, when the ship gave a roll, and
away he was sent clear of the bulwarks and into the sea. To glide down
by a back-stay and to jump overboard after him was the work of a moment.
I scarcely knew what I was doing. I fancied that I just heard the cry
of "A man overboard;" but I was not certain. I knew that I was for my
size a good swimmer, and I wanted to save my friend. He could swim, but
not much. He threw up his arms; I saw him, and struck out towards him.
I had a companion, I found, hastening also to his rescue. It was old
Surley. He swam faster than I did, seeming to know the importance of
haste. We were not without means of support, for as Jerry fell the
life-buoy had been let go. It was such as are carried by men-of-war,
and could support several people. I sung out to Jerry. He heard my
voice, but he only answered faintly. He had got his mouth full of
water, and had been stunned and confused by his fall. He was beating
the water wildly, forgetting apparently that he could swim.

"Help! help!" he sung out; "I'm sinking! I'm sinking!" I did my utmost
to reach him, but was still some way off. Surley dashed towards him,
and seized him by the collar, holding his head above water. I saw that
the best thing I could do was to tow the life-buoy up to him. It was
not far off. Surley seemed to divine my intention, and swam towards it.
At last I got it up to Jerry. He had just strength enough left to
catch hold of it. Old Surley put his paws in the beckets to support
himself, and then we all thr