ut to the
flying-jib-boom end and, placing himself astride the spar, outside the
royal stay, clinched himself there in the most extraordinary manner by
means of his feet and legs, and then calmly took the coil of
heaving-line in his hand and held himself ready for a cast. The ease
with which the fellow clung to the bare end of that dancing spar was a
revelation to me; for the motion out there was, proportionately, as
violent as it would have been in the maintop; yet there he sat, as
composedly as though he had been in an easy-chair, while most white men
would have found it difficult enough to maintain such a position with
the aid of hands as well as feet, leaving out of the question any
possibility of executing such a manoeuvre as that of throwing a line to
windward against a whole gale of wind.

San Domingo thus safely established at his station, Joe and Sir Edgar
placed themselves at the braces, standing by to back the main-topsail at
the instant that I should give the word; while I climbed into the
weather fore-rigging, as the best position from which to con the ship;
and in this order we edged gradually and warily down toward the wreck.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

THE END OF THE ADVENTURE.

Our situation, now, was everything that could be desired for the
execution of the delicate manoeuvre that I contemplated, and only a few
minutes elapsed from the time of my stationing myself in the
fore-rigging when the critical moment arrived for us to attempt it. I
accordingly signed to Forbes to put the helm down; which he instantly
did, lashing it fast; when he and I sprang simultaneously to the weather
main-braces, to assist Sir Edgar and Joe in backing the main-topsail.
This proved to be a tough drag for four men; but we managed to get the
yards round far enough to lay the sail aback, when I once more darted
forward into the fore-rigging to superintend the remainder of the work;
Forbes returning to his station at the wheel, while Sir Edgar and Joe
stood by the warp, in readiness to pay it out quickly, and to throw the
life-buoys over clear of the rail.

Everything now depended upon the strength and skill of San Domingo.

The wreck, when I reached my post of observation in the rigging, was on
our weather-bow, not more than twice our own length from us; and the
barque, with her way already somewhat retarded by the backing of the
main-topsail and the putting down of the helm, was slowly forging up to
it, with her bows incli