sea, to sink once more
amid the tumbling waters. I heard strange cries and shrieks, and then
the howling of a gale as if in the rigging of a ship. I thought I was
once more on board the brig, and saw the sea which had swept away my
shipmates come rolling up towards us. Again the shrieks which I had
heard sounded in my ears, and I felt the wild waters rushing over me. I
started up to find that it was a dreadful reality. The portion of the
raft to which I was clinging was almost submerged. The larger part
appeared broken up. I looked round for my companions. The night was
pitchy dark, I could see no one. I called to them, there was no reply.
I felt across to where Dick had been--he was gone!

"Dick Hagger, Mr Harvey, Jacques, where are you?" I shouted.

Dick's voice replied, "Heave a rope and haul us in." I felt about for
one, but not a line could I find, except the lashings attached to the
raft.

"Where are you?" I again cried out.

"Here, with Mr Harvey; I tried to save him," was the answer.

Alas, how helpless I felt! With frantic haste I endeavoured to draw out
some of the lashings, in the hopes of forming a line long enough to
reach Dick, but my efforts were in vain. The raft was tossing wildly
about. It was with the greatest difficulty I could cling on to it,
pressing my knees round one of the cross timbers. I heard once more the
cry:

"Good-bye, Will, God help you!" and then I knew that Dick and the young
officer he was trying to save had sunk beneath the waves.

Again and again I shouted, but no voice replied. Though thus left
alone, I still desired to live, and continued clinging to the shattered
raft, tossed about by the foaming seas. Frequently the water rushed
over me; it was difficult to keep my head above it long enough to regain
my breath before another wave came rolling in. It seemed to me an age
that I was thus clinging on in pitchy darkness, but I believe the
catastrophe really occurred only a short time before daylight. In what
direction the wind was blowing I could not tell. When the raft rose to
the top of a sea I endeavoured to look round. No sail was in sight, nor
could I distinguish the land. I felt that I could not hold out many
hours longer. One of the baskets still remained lashed to the raft, but
its contents had been washed out, and the casks of water had been
carried away. Hour after hour passed by. There was less sea running,
and the wind had somewhat gone