out of his depth, and been carried
out a good way by the current. I had followed him, dived after he had
sank, and brought him to the surface, and then hauled him on to the bank
of the river where we were bathing. I remembered this, or perhaps I
should say I did not think about anything but the one idea of saving the
life of a fellow-creature. I was lightly clad. Throwing off my jacket,
before Potto Jumbo could cry out, or any one else attempt to stop me, I
was overboard. I was in the water almost as soon as the cry of "A man
overboard!" was raised.

A glance aloft showed me that it was Oliver Farwell who had fallen. As
I reached the water I could see him on the top of a wave, just as the
ship's quarter glided past me. I shouted out to him, and swam forward.
I now found how different it was swimming in smooth water and swimming
in the heavy sea there was running. At the same time I had been
accustomed to fresh water, which is less buoyant than salt, and thus I
felt myself greatly supported.

The instant the cry of "A man overboard!" was raised, a life-buoy was
let go. It fell some distance from me. I doubted whether I should swim
to that and tow it to Oliver, or go to Oliver first and try to get him
up to it. My fear was that Oliver would sink before I could reach him.
I determined to get hold of Oliver. I could hear the cries of the
people on board as they watched me, encouraging me in my attempt. I had
scarcely been in the water ten minutes when I heard a peculiar rushing
sound, and turning round my head saw the long wings of an enormous
albatross passing close above me. A blow from its beak would have been
fatal. I looked towards Oliver more anxiously than ever, fearing that,
passing me, it might strike him. I shouted to him, and told him to
shout too, hoping that the noise might scare off the bird. Others,
however, came sweeping by. Again a wing almost touched my head.
Diving, I knew, would have been of no use, for the creature might have
followed me far lower than I could have sunk. Still I swam on.

I heard another shout, and as I rose to the top of a wave I saw just
astern of the ship a black head and face--it was Potto Jumbo. Above his
head he waved a long knife. He intended it as a signal that he was
coming to my assistance. At the same instant a loud bark came from the
stern of the ship, and I saw Merlin, who appeared one moment at the
taffrail, and the next leaped over into the foamin