aters, the sea dashing clean over her, and the brig
thumping heavily. The masts went over the side, and at last one
enormous wave turned her over on her broadside, we clinging to the upper
bulwarks. It was a fearful sight, for we could see the lights moving
about on shore close to us. The hurricane never diminished, and the
seas made a clean breach over us, carrying away from time to time some
of the crew. We held on our best, for, so near land, we could not think
we should be left to perish, but we waited in vain."

"Could not a lifeboat live in that sea?" asked Hughes.

"Ay, ay, but the lubbers had none, and for anything I know have not got
one yet. Lashed to the bulwarks, we waited for help all through that
fearful night, but when the grey light of day came, we saw that there
was no hope. I and a sailor named Hesketh determined to take our
chance. We lashed ourselves to a stout spar each, and tried hard to
persuade the others to do as much, but they would not. The captain was
nearly speechless, and did not seem to know what he was doing. It was a
fearful moment when we two threw ourselves into the raging ocean."

"You could both swim, I suppose?" asked Hughes.

"Ay, ay; we could swim, but what use was swimming in such a sea? The
first wave rolled us over and over, like corks, but could not sink us.
We remained several hours in the water, every moment expecting death. I
was insensible most of the time."

"Did you remain near each other?"

"No, after the last shake of the hand as we jumped overboard, we parted
company. Two lads found me rolled on the beach like a log, and help
being forthcoming I was kindly treated and restored, but it was weeks
before I could get about. The sailor, Hesketh, was a good deal bruised,
but managed better than I did."

"And the captain and remaining crew?" inquired Hughes.

"Perished. Not a trace of the brig remained. Captain Bell, belonging
to the port, and Captain Wilson of the Point, the landing agents, and
other authorities, had fires lit, and did what they could, but there was
no lifeboat, and save myself and Hesketh, brig and crew went to Davy
Jones's locker, stock and block."

"I can easily conceive your antipathy to an anchorage at Port Natal
during a gale of wind," remarked his hearer.

"If our jury masts only hold, and the gale don't increase, we shall do
very well; and now I'm for deck, and I would advise Dona Isabel to turn
in. Good night, Senhora," s