g master of the ship in Falconer's "Shipwreck," and I
prayed for her I loved best on earth, as many a seaman undoubtedly has
prayed, when tossing on the foaming waves. Still I had no fears; I knew
that that prayer would be heard.

"Keep up, Massa Walter! Keep up!" cried Potto Jumbo, as he helped me to
hold our companion on to the life-buoy, and saw that I indeed required
aid myself. "Keep up, Massa Walter! boat soon come. See, see! dere she
is away from the ship! Hurrah! Never say die! See, she comes! Joe
Tarbox or the first mate in her. Never fear! Hurrah, hurrah!"

Thus he continued shouting, for the double purpose of keeping up our
spirits, and of scaring away the albatrosses. Now, at length, I saw
that the boat was clear of the ship. On she came. Now she appeared on
the summit of a foaming sea, now she was hid from view in the trough
below it; then again she came in sight, for when she was sinking we at
the same time were rising in most instances, and could therefore look
over the intervening seas. Still the time seemed very long. It
required careful management to get near the life-buoy without striking
us. To pick up one person was difficult, but to take up three the risk
was far greater.

"You go first!" cried Potto Jumbo, as the boat approached.

"No, no," I said; "let Oliver be taken in. He is almost drowned as it
is."

We could see the boat's bows almost above us. It seemed as if the next
instant she would come down like a huge hammer upon our heads. But Joe
Tarbox knew well what he was about, and turned her head aside, while a
strong arm stretched forth, seized hold of Oliver as Potto Jumbo held
him up, and he was safe on board. My companion insisted on my going
next. Again the boat, which had been driven off by the sea, approached
us.

"Quick! quick!" cried Joe. "Have them both in at once!"

I was nearest my friend, and seizing hold of me he hauled me in over the
quarter, while Potto sprang to the side, and was dragged in by the other
men. Merlin waited till he saw us both on board, and not till then did
he push for the boat, with his snout lifted up as if asking for
assistance. Ready hands were stretched out to him, and with their help
he quickly scrambled on board, and made his way aft to the stern-sheets,
where he looked into my face as if to inquire whether I was all right.

"We must have the life-buoy, though," cried Joe; "for another of us may
be falling overboard before