t of actual physical
incapacity should compel me to turn back.

We stretched off the land, close-hauled upon the starboard tack, the
whole of that day, and the greater part of the succeeding night; the
skipper's object being, as I gathered from a remark or two which I
overheard between him and the first lieutenant, to get well over toward
the French coast; where, if fortune favoured us, we might be lucky
enough to pick up a prize or two.

As the day wore on, the wind increased considerably in strength, and at
the end of the first dog-watch orders were given to take down another
reef in the topsails, and to stow the courses. The topsail yards were
accordingly lowered down upon the caps, and the crew proceeded aloft to
execute this duty, some of the green hands evincing a very marked
disinclination to go more than half-way up the lower rigging; and when
at length, by dint of mingled force and persuasion, they were got as
high as the tops, two or three refused point-blank to lay out upon the
yards. The first lieutenant raved at them, stamped furiously upon the
deck, and threatened unutterable things if they did not lay out
forthwith; and the captains of the tops, not to be behindhand, proceeded
vigorously to "freshen their way" with a rope's end. This latter
persuasive appeared to have the desired effect; and, slowly and with
excessive caution, the men proceeded to lay out. Suddenly the foot of
one of them on the main-yard slipped; he clung convulsively for a moment
to the yard, and then whirled off backwards, striking the main-rigging
on the weather side, and rebounding into the sea.

Instantly there arose the startling cry of "A man overboard!" I know
not what possessed me, but in the excitement of the moment, and without
in the least thinking of what I was doing, I no sooner saw the man
strike the water than I rushed aft, leaped upon the taffrail, and,
pausing a single instant to mark the spot where he fell, raised my hands
above my head, and took a most scientific header into the boiling surge.
As I was descending toward the water I heard a hearty cheer from the
men, and then the icy cold waves closed over my head; there was a
rushing sound in my ears, and darkness all around me.

When I rose to the surface, I found myself close to the drowning man,
who was struggling feebly and in an aimless sort of way, apparently half
stunned, and lying face downwards in the water. Swimming happened to be
one of the very f