own at once.

The captain was compelled at last to heave the ship to, and there we
lay, now rising to the top of a sea, now sinking into the trough, with
walls of water, half as high as the main-top, round us. The seas in the
German Ocean and Bay of Biscay were nothing to be compared to those we
encountered off the Horn, though, perhaps, equally dangerous.

As soon as I went below, I hurried to the side of Esdale. He asked what
had happened. I told him.

"Some one was carried overboard?" he inquired.

"Yes," I said. "Poor Jack Norris," wondering how he knew it.

"And I shall soon follow him," he replied.

His words proved true. That very night, as I came off my watch and was
about to turn in, I heard my messmate utter my name in a low voice. I
went to him.

"I'm going," he whispered. "Good-bye, Peter; you'll remember what I
have said to you?"

I promised him I would, and told him I must run and call the doctor.

"No, stay," he said. "He can do me no good. Tell him I thank him for
his kindness. Good-bye, Peter."

The next instant his hand relaxed its hold of mine, and stooping down
over him I found he had ceased to breathe.

So died one of the most amiable and excellent young men I have ever met.
The next morning he was sewn up in canvas, with a shot at his feet, and
brought on deck. The captain stood aft watching the proceedings.
Whether he felt he had hastened Esdale's death I know not; but his
countenance was stern and gloomy as night. The boldest seaman on board
would not have dared just then to speak to him. Hail and sleet were
driving in our faces; a furious gale threatening to carry our only sail
out of the bolt-ropes was blowing; the mountain seas raged round us;
there was scarce time for a prayer, none for form or ceremony. A
foaming billow came thundering against the bows; over the deck it swept.
We clung for our lives to ropes, stanchions, and ring-bolts. When it
had passed we found that it had borne our young shipmate to his ocean
grave.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

ROUNDING CAPE HORN.

For well-nigh six weeks we were endeavouring to get round Cape Horn,
when the weather moderated, making way to the westward, but again being
driven back often over more ground than we had gained.

The captain was constantly on deck, exhibiting on all occasions his
splendid seamanship. He was ever on the look-out to take advantage of
the least change of wind which would enable us to lay our course