d feet in height. It had the appearance of a
monument standing out of the ocean. There are no inhabitants on the
island, nor any good landing-place, but fresh water is to be obtained
there, as well as pigs and vegetables.

We soon after this began to fall in with stormy weather. We found our
ship, which had remarkably sharp ends, very wet, and as we were now
approaching the land of storms in the dead of winter, with the days
scarcely more than seven hours long, the greatest caution was deemed
necessary. The royal masts were sent down and replaced by stump
topgallant masts. The flying jib-boom was sent in and the studding-sail
booms were also sent down. All the boats except one were got in, the
hatches were battened down, and everything was done to make the ship
light aloft.

We were nearly off the River Plate when there were indications of an
approaching gale. The hitherto blue sky was overcast, and the scud flew
rapidly along, as if impelled by a hurricane.

"You youngsters will have to look out for yourselves before long," said
Tom Ringold, the boat-steerer, who had acted the part of Neptune. "We
shall be having old Harry Cane aboard here, and he's a precious deal
more difficult to tackle than Daddy Neptune, who paid us a visit on the
line."

"Oh, dear! Oh, dear! I wonder what we shall do?" cried Horner, who did
not exactly understand what was going to happen.

"Why, hold on to the weather-rigging, if you haven't to be pulling and
hauling, and duck your head if you see a sea coming," answered Jim, who
understood the joke about Harry Cane.

In a short time the captain ordered the topsails to be reefed and the
mainsail to be stowed and all the lighter sails handed. Jim and I were
sent aloft to the fore-topgallant sailyard to furl the sail. We were
laying out when, to my horror, I saw Jim disappear. I nearly fell from
the yard myself, from thinking that he would be dashed to pieces, and
that I should lose my staunchest friend.

"Jim! Jim! Oh, save him! Save him!" I shouted out, not knowing what
I was saying, or considering how useless it was to shout.

"Here I am all right, Peter," cried Jim, and his voice seemed to come
not far from me.

What was my joy to discover that he had been caught in the belly of the
sail, and there he lay as if he had been in a hammock, the reef tackle
having been hauled out just at the time he fell. He quickly scrambled
on to the yard again, resuming his duty as if