f it was. He ran it up half-mast high as a
signal of distress. The stranger came on slowly, for the wind was
light. It seemed even now that she would not be in time to save us. At
last she got near enough to see our condition, and hove-to. Four boats
were lowered, which came pulling towards us.

"By this time the water was almost up to the lower deck. Jack and I
stood ready to spring on board the first boat which came up. The brave
crew came on, and were in time to haul the greater number of the
Chinamen on board before the junk sunk beneath their feet. Several went
down in her, too much knocked up to exert themselves. With us and those
saved, the boats returned on board. We found that we had been picked up
by the _Helen_, whaler. She had been cruising off the coast of Japan,
and was going to Macao for fresh provisions. As she was short of hands
Jack and I at once entered on board her. Having landed the unfortunate
Chinamen and taken in the stores we wanted, we stood away into the
Pacific. We found ourselves among a somewhat rough lot, but we were
better off than we had been as slaves, though Jack and I agreed that we
would much rather serve on board a man-o'-war. We had been cruising for
some time, and had caught and stowed away about a dozen whales or more,
when one night there was a cry of `Breakers ahead!'

"The captain, who was on deck in a moment, gave the order to put up the
helm and veer ship, but before she could be got round she struck
heavily. We sounded round her and found the water deep on the starboard
side. But all our efforts proving useless, the order was given to lower
the boats. We had five fit for service, and they were got safely into
the water. Jack went in one of them, I in another. We were ordered to
keep off at a safe distance from the ship till daylight. When morning
broke we found that the ship was a complete wreck, and that there was no
chance of saving her. The captain then ordered the boats to come
alongside one at a time and embark the rest of the crew, with such
provisions as could be collected. We now saw land away to the nor'ard,
and, having left the ship, pulled towards it. Our great want was water,
and to obtain it the captain divided us into two parties to look into
any bays we might discover and try and find a spring. I was in the
second mate's boat. We were just pulling into a bay, when a dozen
canoes full of black savages, with bows and spears, darted out