rating over the cabin sky-light. This I threw
overboard, and as I feared that the halliards would not prove long
enough, I bent on another rope to them. The grating appeared to be
dropping astern very fast; and yet Jim, who was swimming strongly,
seemed to be nearing it very slowly, by which I knew that the brig must
still, urged on by the impetus she had before received, be moving
through the water. Securing the line, I therefore put down the helm,
and completely stopped her way. All was done faster than I have
described it.

Springing back to the taffrail, with straining eyes I watched Jim, for
more I could not do to help him, except to give an occasional shout to
cheer him up. The dreadful thought came that there might be sharks
about, or that his strength might fail him before he could reach the
grating. I did more than cheer, though--I prayed to God with all my
soul that Jim might be saved. Often he seemed scarcely to be moving
through the water--now he threw himself on his back to rest--then he
once more struck bravely out, replying as he did so to my cheer. At
length he got near the grating. My heart gave a bound of joy as I saw
him seize it, when he gradually drew himself up and lay flat on its
surface, the best way for making it afford him support.

With a shout to Jim to hold on, I began to haul in the raft till I
brought it under the quarter.

"Wait a minute, Jim, while I get a tackle ready to haul you on board," I
cried out.

This did not take me the time I said, and forming a bowline I lowered it
to him. He seemed so exhausted that I was afraid lest in trying to pass
it over his shoulders he might slide off the grating; and I was about to
go down to assist him, when, seeing the rope, he slipped his arms
through it and exclaimed, "Haul away, Peter."

I was not long in obeying him, it may be supposed, and I almost cried
with joy as I had him at length safe on deck. I knew that the first
thing now to be done was to get off his wet clothes, and to give him a
restorative, but I had a hard job to carry him below, as he could not
help himself.

"Never mind, Peter," he said, faintly; "I shall soon be all to rights
again." But I was not going to leave him in the cold air on deck, so
going first, I let him slip gradually down the companion-ladder, and
then stripping off his clothes, in a short time had him snug between the
blankets. I then quickly relighted the fire and warmed up the broth I
had