in all his glory. Never shall I
forget the sight! The after part of the gallant ship was buried in the
crest of the wave, which, beating over her quarter, flew into the
maintop itself. Her fore part had outrun the billow, and hung for a
second suspended over the abyss. Then, like a falcon stooping from its
height, she swooped down into the gulf, the wild waters roaring after
her, like wolves in pursuit of their prey.

She was somewhat to leeward of me, but nevertheless I shouted with all
my might, again and again.

It was in vain. Her crew clinging to the rigging, were all engaged
each in his own preservation, and no more noticed the half-buried
figure calling to them, than they observed the sea-bird that, like an
_avant courier_, swept the billow before them. I shouted, I shrieked,
I waved my arm frantically over my head. But all to no purpose. I
heard the fierce bubbling of the waters as the mighty ship tore
through them close at hand; I caught a glimpse of the pale and
terrified faces of her crew, gleaming out in the angry light of the
setting sun: and then the vision passed, a Titanic wave upheaved
between us, and I was alone.

Alone on the illimitable ocean! Alone while night was drawing on!
Alone with no chance of escape remaining! Far, far to leeward, just
visible occasionally over the distant surges, I saw my own vessel;
but, except this, the horizon was now without a speck.

I burst into tears. The tension of my nerves had been unnatural; they
now gave way: and, as I saw nothing but death before me, I wept like a
child. Yet still it was the thought of my mother that affected me, not
any consideration of self. My whole past life rushed in review before
me. I saw myself at my mother's knee looking and wondering as she
taught me to pray. I was a boy going to school, now chasing a
butterfly, now watching the angler from the village bridge, but ever
loitering on my way. I saw my little sister die, and after her, one by
one, in that season of terrible epidemic, my four brothers. I followed
my father to the grave, the last victim of that pestilence: I wept
with my surviving parent: I promised always to stay by her: I was her
all in all. And then, with the flight of years, came other pictures. I
was older and more adventurous, but, I fear, not wiser nor better. A
strange longing for the sea had seized me. I had secretly joined a
ship sailing to the Mediterranean, and was now on my return. But,
alas! I was never to