so, he would send me home with all the papers and
documents to the owner at Liverpool, who would require my assistance
to arrange the accounts; and as I had had quite enough of privateering
for a time, I consented to go. About two months after leaving the
hospital, during which I had passed a very pleasant life, and quite
recovered from my wounds and injuries, I sailed for Liverpool in the
Sally and Kitty West-Indiaman, commanded by Captain Clarke, a very
violent man.

We had not sailed twelve hours before we fell in with a gale, which
lasted several days, and we kept under close-reef-topsails and
storm-staysails. The gale lasting a week, raised a mountainous swell,
but it was very long and regular. On the seventh day the wind abated,
but the swell continued, and at evening there was very little wind,
when a circumstance occurred which had nearly cost me my life, as you
will acknowledge, Madam, when I relate the story to you. During the
dog-watch between six and eight, some hands being employed in the
foretop, the other watch below at supper, and the captain and all the
officers in the cabin, I being at the helm, heard a voice apparently
rising out of the sea, calling me by name. Surprised, I ran to the
side of the ship, and saw a youth named Richard Pallant in the water
going astern. He had fallen out of the forechains, and knowing that I
was at the helm, had shouted to me for help. I immediately called all
hands, crying a man overboard. The captain hastened on deck with all
the others, and ordered the helm a-lee. The ship went about, and then
fell round off, driving fast before the swell, till at last we brought
her to.

The captain, although a resolute man, was much confused and perplexed
at the boy's danger--for his friends were people of property at
Ipswich, and had confided the boy to his particular care. He ran
backwards and forwards, crying out that the boy must perish, as the
swell was so high that he dared not send a boat, for the boat could
not live in such a sea, and if the boat were lost with the crew, there
would not be hands enow left on board to take the vessel home. As the
youth was not a hundred yards from the vessel, I stated the
possibility of swimming to him with the deep-sea line, which would be
strong enough to haul both him and the man who swam to him on board.
Captain Clarke, in a great rage, swore that it was impossible, and
asked me who the devil would go. Piqued at his answer, and anxious