n as I saw the poor fellow being
swept away, I slipped my head and shoulders through the bowline knot I
held in my hand, dashed into the surf, and, resorting to my usual
tactics of diving through the breakers, managed to get hold of the man
with one hand, while I raised the other above my head, as a signal to
those on shore to haul away upon their end of the line.

As soon as I felt the line tighten round me, I grasped the man round the
body, and in another moment we were both on the beach, in the arms of
those who had run down to meet us. By these we were dragged up out of
reach of the sea, and, on staggering to my feet, I had the satisfaction
of seeing the man who had jumped overboard from the wreck being hauled
on board again.

Loud were the thanks and praises I received for my conduct in bringing
the other on shore; but without waiting to listen to them, I hastily
explained that I would try to take a line on board the wreck, as, if I
could succeed in this, there might possibly be some chance of saving the
major portion, if not the whole of the crew. Accordingly I dashed into
the surf once more; and at length, after the most superhuman efforts,
though the distance was barely thirty yards, I reached the ship's side,
and was drawn on board by a line which her crew threw to me. The men
crowded round me, rapidly talking in some language which I could not
understand, and looking as much relieved as though I had the power of
taking them all on my back at once, and swimming on shore with them. I
stood for a moment to recover my breath; and at the same time looked
about to see what resources might be at my command. I noticed a towing
hawser coiled away upon what had originally been the deckhouse forward,
but which was now stove in and battered almost out of recognition. An
eye was spliced in one end of this hawser; and taking it up, I signed to
the men to pass it over the stump of the foremast. They understood me,
and, seeing my object in wishing it done, they had it over in a
twinkling; in another moment, they had the heavy coil capsized, the
other end bent on to the line which I had brought on board with me, and
were paying it rapidly over the side.

As I turned to address the master of the vessel, who, I noticed as I was
hauled up the side, was then standing at the break of the poop, issuing
instructions to his crew, I saw him in the act of descending the poop-
ladder, and I stepped towards him. At this moment t