our rudder broke adrift, and
on getting it on board to repair, it came right down on his leg,
crushing it fearfully. We all thought he must have died, for you see
our doctor had left the ship some time before, and there was no one who
knew what was to be done. So our skipper sat down on the deck and
ordered the carpenter to bring him the surgical instruments. Our
carpenter is a wonderfully clever fellow, and between them they managed
to saw off the leg below the knee, to take up the arteries and stop the
bleeding. [See Note 1.] We then got the old man, who is sixty years of
age, into bed. Would you believe it? In a few weeks after the accident
he had a turning-lathe brought to the side of his bed, and if he didn't
turn out a first-rate wooden leg for himself."

On going below the doctor found the old captain doing wonderfully well
and not requiring any further aid. Before we left he was stumping about
on deck as hearty and cheery as ever. Indeed, through his courage and
coolness he had undoubtedly saved his own life.

The old captain probably is dead, but Mr Rosden, the mate, who is the
son of an old Downs pilot, will confirm the account I have given.

The captain was constantly on shore, and Mr Griffiths kindly let me
take one of the boats, with Jim, and Soper, and Coal as a crew, and we
visited every ship in the harbour, that I might make inquiries for Jack.
As we pulled about, though disappointed at one ship, we half hoped to
find him on board another. My heart grew sick as I approached the last.

"Do you think he's aboard her, Miles?" I asked.

"If he isn't don't lose heart," was the answer.

"No, no, don't lose heart, Peter," echoed Jim. "He'll turn up some time
or other. It mayn't be to-day or it mayn't be to-morrow, but if he's
alive--and there's no reason why he should have lost his life--he'll be
somewhere no doubt, and you'll be led to him, that's my opinion."

We got on board the ship. She was an American whaler, the _William and
Eliza_. We found the crew in a great state of commotion, and they would
scarcely listen to what I had to say. Their commander, Captain Rogers,
who seemed to be a great favourite with them, had been wrongly accused
of infringing the revenue laws, and had been imprisoned in a mud fort
which guarded the landing-place, and they were determined to rescue him.

Most of their boats were away visiting the other ships to obtain
recruits, and they declared that if he was