n; so, being a
good swimmer, I was able to regain the surface, and to look about me.
Away flew the ship before the wind, without a prospect of my being able
to regain her; so I did not trouble myself upon that point. The other
men who had been washed overboard with me had sunk: I could do them no
good. I therefore had only to look after myself. I first cast my eyes
about me, to see what I could get hold of to keep me afloat. The wreck
of the bulwarks and boats, with the spars which had been washed
overboard, had sent me some materials; and I got a couple of pieces
under my arms to support me while I looked for more. In the heavy sea
that was running, I could not have made much of a raft, when fortunately
my eye caught a grating; which I managed, after much exertion, to reach.
By degrees I fished up other pieces of plank and broken spars, till I
had formed the raft you found me on. Fortunately, I had started on my
cruise just after supper, so that I was able to hold out for some time
without eating. But when morning came, and there was not a sail in
sight, I began to feel somewhat down-hearted. However, I soon plucked
up again. Said I to myself, `Though the ocean is wide, there are a good
many craft afloat, and it will be hard if someone doesn't make me out
before very long.' I tried to think of all the wonderful escapes people
had made who had been in a similar condition; and I prayed that God
would deliver me in the same way. One thing weighed on my mind, and
still weighs there: I left a wife and a small child at home, near
Bristol; and when the ship arrives there, the poor girl will hear that I
was was washed overboard, and will believe me dead. When you got near
me, I saw that you were outward-bound; and the thought that she might
have to go many a month and not hear of me, served more than anything
else to upset me. My strength gave way, and I went off in a faint, as
you saw, in the bottom of the boat." He then told the captain that his
name was Walter Stenning. The captain, who was a kind-hearted man, did
his best to raise his spirits; and promised him that if we fell in with
a homeward-bound ship he would endeavour to put him on board.

As it happened, we did not speak any vessel till we reached the West
Indies; so we had to carry Walter Stenning with us.

CHAPTER THREE.

THE WEST INDIES.

"Land! land on the starboard-bow!" was shouted from the foretopmast
cross-trees, where several of our m