dy of the sea; and soon my efforts
ceased.

Then, all at once, when almost the sense of suffocation had passed, I
felt a hand grasp my collar at the back of my neck; and, oh, gracious
heaven! I was dragged above the surface and drew once more a breath of
air. I took in a gulp of water with this; but, in spite of the water,
the air was the sweet essence of life and I breathed again!

I had been in a dream before--a terrible dream; now I came to myself,
and my recollection returned.

The buzzing sounds that had previously echoed through my brain resolved
themselves into the hoarse shouts of the crew of the _Josephine_; the
exclamations of the sailors being mingled with the roaring, crashing
break of the waves as they washed over the wreck, and the creaking and
rending of the timbers of the poor ship, while, nearer yet to me, I
could distinguish the cheering cry of faithful Jake:

"Hole up, Mass' Tom, um got um safe now. Hole up an' take good breff;
we'se all right, an' ebberybody safe!"

At the same moment that he spoke Jake lifted me up on something which I
could feel with my feet, and I opened my eyes.

At first, I was almost blinded by the sea-water which had got into them,
and the salt spray which continually dashed over my head; but, in a
minute or two, I was able to see where I was and grasp the situation.

The ship was lying over on her starboard side, with her decks submerged
up to the hatches, and her masts horizontal on the surface of the sea;
but, the whole of her port side was clear out of the water, and,
although the waves were breaking over this, still the major part of the
quarter and a portion of the poop were almost high and dry in the
intervals between the following rollers that ever and anon swept up to
their level.

On this after part of the ship, Jake had managed to clamber up, lugging
me along with him; and, as I looked round, I could recognise Captain
Miles and Mr Marline, as well as several others of the hands, who had
sought such a vantage-ground of safety.

Away forwards, the _Josephine_ was completely buried in the huge billows
that were constantly surging over her; but here, too, clinging on to the
main-chains was another group of sailors, amongst whom I could make out
the tall figure of Jackson, with Cuffee and Davis close beside him.

Captain Miles perceived me almost as soon as I saw him.

"Ah, there you are, Tom!" he cried. "Thank God you are not lost! I
made a hard grab a