o keep up. I had been rescued before,
and I hoped to be saved another time. Then, however, I had been in a
comparatively narrow sea, with numerous vessels passing over it. Now I
was in the middle of the Atlantic, which, although rightly called a
highway, was a very broad one. I could not also help recollecting that
I was in the latitude where sharks abound, and I thought it possible
that one might make a grab at my basket, and try to swallow it and me
together, although I smiled at the thought of the inconvenience the fish
would feel when it stuck its teeth into the yard, and got it fixed
across its mouth. Happily no shark espied me.

Day at last dawned. As I looked around when I rose to the summit of a
sea, my eyes fell alone on the dark, tumbling, foaming waters, and the
thick clouds going down to meet them. I began to feel very hungry and
thirsty, for though I had water enough around me, I dare not drink it.
I now found it harder than ever to keep up my spirits, and gloomy
thoughts began to take possession of my mind. No one, I confess, would
have called me Happy Jack just then. I was sinking off into a state of
stupor, during which I might easily have been washed out of my cradle,
when, happening to open my eyes, they fell on the sails of a large brig
standing directly for me. I could scarcely fail to be seen by those on
board. On she came before the breeze; but as she drew nearer I began to
fear that she might still pass at some distance. I tried to stand up
and shout out, but I was nearly toppling overboard in making the
attempt. I managed, however, to kneel upon the spar and wave my
handkerchief, shouting as I did so with all my might. The brig altered
her course, and now came directly down for me. I made out two or three
people in the forechains standing ready to heave me a rope. I prepared
to seize it. The brig was up to me and nearly running me down, but I
caught the first rope hove to me, and grasped it tightly. I could
scarcely have expected to find myself capable of so much exertion.
Friendly hands were stretched out to help me up, but scarcely was I safe
than I sank down almost senseless on deck. I soon, however, recovered,
and being taken below, and dry clothes and food being given me, I
quickly felt as well as usual. "Where am I, and where are you bound
to?" were the first questions I asked, hoping to hear that I was on
board a homeward-bound vessel. "You are on board the American bri