es of all sorts, thrown out of the lockers,
mixed with the furniture which had broken adrift, were knocking about,
while all the time we were in complete darkness. The dead-lights had
fortunately been closed at the commencement of the gale, and the
companion-hatch remained secure, so that, as yet, no water came below.

Getting on our feet we were endeavouring to grope our way to the
companion-ladder when we heard two loud crashes in quick succession, and
directly afterwards, the brig righting with a violent jerk, we were
thrown half across the cabin, bruised and almost stunned, among the
numberless things knocking violently about. After a time, on recovering
our senses, we picked ourselves up and made another attempt to get on
deck. I now began to hope that the brig would not go down as soon as I
had expected, but still I knew that she was in a fearfully perilous
condition. I was sure from the crashing sounds we had heard that both
her masts were gone: that very probably also she had sprung a leak,
while we were far to the northward of the usual track of vessels.

At last we found our way to the cabin door, but groped about in vain for
the companion-ladder, till Jim suggested that it had been unshipped when
the vessel went over. After some time we found it, but had great
difficulty, in consequence of the way the brig was rolling, to get it
replaced. As soon as it was so I mounted and shouted as loud as I could
to some one to come and lift off the hatch.

No voice replied. Again and again I shouted, fancying that the people
might have gone forward for some reason or other and had forgotten us.

"What can have happened?" cried Jim, in a tone of alarm.

I dared not answer him, for I feared the worst.

Feeling about, I discovered an axe slung just inside the
companion-hatch, on which I began hammering away with all my might--but
still no one came.

"Jim, I'm afraid they must all be gone," I cried out at last.

"Gone!" he exclaimed. "What, the old captain, and mate, and Andrews,
and the rest?"

"I am afraid so," I answered.

Again I shouted and knocked. Still no one came.

"We must break open the hatch," I said, and I attempted to force up the
top with the axe, but did not succeed.

"Let me try," cried Jim; "my arm is stronger than yours."

I got down the ladder and gave him the axe. He took my place and began
working away at the part where the hatch was placed. I could hear him
giving stroke after