ovisions came alongside.

These were soon hoisted on board, when the captain ordered a gun to be
fired and Blue Peter to be hoisted, a signal to all those on shore to
return immediately.

Dr Cockle and the third mate, with the cooper, whom the captain thought
he could trust, had landed.

Presently the captain ordered another and then another gun to be fired
to hasten them, and then to my bitter disappointment he directed Mr
Griffiths to loosen sails and heave up the anchor.

According to Esdale's advice I had begun a letter to Mary, but had not
had time to finish it. Hoping that I should not be missed by the
captain, I ran below to add a few lines and then to close it, under the
belief that I should be able to send it off by a shore-boat. I had to
get out Esdale's ink-bottle and pen, which he had before lent me; the
pen would not write, so I had to search for his penknife, and to try and
mend it as well as I could, but having little experience in the art,
this took me some time. I at last got the letter closed with a wafer,
and directed to the care of Mr Gray, when I sprang with it on deck.
Just then the eye of the captain fell on me.

"Come aft here, youngster," he shouted. "Where have you been away from
your duty?"

I had the letter in my hand.

"I wanted to get this ready to send on shore, sir," I answered, holding
it up.

"No excuse for leaving your station. Take that!" he cried, as he gave
me a blow on the side of the head with his half-clenched fist, which
brought me to the deck, and nearly stunned me. When I recovered myself
the first person I saw was Dr Cockle, who, looking at me
compassionately, said, "Come below, Peter, and I'll try to put your head
to rights, for you seem to be much hurt. How did it happen?"

"I can't tell you now, sir, for I much want to send this letter off by a
shore-boat," I answered.

As I spoke I observed that the crew were hoisting away and sheeting home
the sails. I ran to the side and jumped on to the main chains. The
only remaining boat was just shoving off. I shouted to the people in
her to come and take my letter; but they did not understand me, or did
not care to remain alongside, as the ship was rapidly gathering way;
another stroke of their oars and they were at a distance from the ship.
I waved and shouted to them to come back, but they did not heed me, and
just then I heard the captain calling to me in an angry tone to attend
to my duty. I was obliged