captain! Hands aloft--two reefs in the topsails." The crew were
running up the rigging, when Captain Westerway made his appearance. The
men quickly laid out on the yards, and were busily employed in gathering
up the sails. An active young topman, whom Charles had seen just before
laughing and joking with his shipmates, was on the lee-yardarm; while,
with earing in hand, he was passing the point through the cringle, the
ship gave a heavy lurch, he lost his hold, and was jerked off the yard.
For an instant he was seen hanging on to the earing; but it would have
required superhuman strength to maintain his hold with the ship pitching
and rolling as she was doing; in another moment he fell headlong into
the foaming sea. Scarcely had he touched the water when Bill Windy ran
to the falls of the lifeboat on the starboard side, crying out for
volunteers. Charles followed him. The most active men were aloft; but
several gathered at the falls. The captain took the helm, relieving the
man at the wheel, who hurried to assist the mate. Bill, with three
hands, was already in the boat. Charles leaped in also.

"You had better not, Mr Dicey," exclaimed Bill. "Get up the side
again, and let another hand come. You don't know the danger you are
running."

"Not more than you," answered Charles.

"It's my duty, sir," said Bill, "and not yours; do be advised by me."

Charles, however, was eager to go to the assistance of the young seaman.
There were in all six stout hands in the boat. The lifebuoy had been
let go. Some time passed before the seaman saw it; at last he made
towards it, but his strength seemed insufficient to buffet with that
rough sea. The attention of most on board was for the moment engaged
rather with the boat endeavouring to carry help to the drowning man than
to the man himself. The greater number of the crew, too, were occupied
in handing the sails. This task had to be accomplished before the ship
could be brought to. That was itself a manoeuvre of no small danger,
yet the sea was not sufficiently high, nor the wind too strong, to make
it altogether impracticable. The boat at length got clear off, and
pulled away in the direction the man had last been seen, Mr Paget and
other passengers pointing with their hands to guide them. Charles
seized an oar--there were only four in the boat; the mate took the helm.
They had not pulled far when one of the oars broke. This was seen from
the ship. Mr Paget