hree oars in the boat, which we could with difficulty,
therefore, manage in that heavy sea. Most of the men in her were
Lascars, and they were but little disposed to go to the assistance of
our drowning shipmates. There were three Englishmen in the after-part
of the boat, and I made my way among the Lascars to join them. Even the
Englishmen belonged to the least respectable part of the crew. They,
however, sided with me, and, seizing a stretcher, I swore that I would
brain the fellows if they would not try to pick up some of the drowning
people. Two or three on this drew their knives, flourishing them with
threatening gestures. Knowing them pretty well, I felt sure that if we
did not gain the day, they would take the first opportunity of heaving
us overboard; and with all my might I dealt a blow at the head of the
man nearest me, who held his weapon ready to strike. The stretcher
caught him as he was in the act of springing up, and he fell overboard,
sinking immediately. `Any more of you like to be treated in the same
way?' I exclaimed. The wretches sank down in their seats, thoroughly
cowed; but in the scuffle one of the oars was lost overboard, and was
swept away before we could recover it. Some time was thus lost, and the
boat had drifted a considerable distance from the spot where the
Indiaman had gone down. We could hear, however, cries for help rising
above the hissing and dashing sounds of the tumbling waters. Every
instant I expected that the boat would be swamped; when at length the
Lascars, who had the oars, were induced by my threats to pull away and
keep her head to sea. I had taken the helm, and though we made no
progress, the rafts and various articles which had floated up from the
wreck came drifting down towards us, scattering far and wide over the
tossing ocean. I caught sight of a boat and two or three other rafts,
but they were too far off to enable me, through the gloom, to
distinguish the people on them. The shrieks had gradually ceased; now
and then the cry of some strong swimmer, who had hitherto bravely
buffeted the sea, was heard ere he sank for the last time. Daylight was
just breaking when, as I was standing up in the stern-sheets, I saw a
person clinging to a piece of timber, and I determined, if possible, to
save him. I pointed him out to the English seamen; and two of them,
springing up, seized the oars from the hands of the Lascars, and by
pulling away lustily we got up clo