that no blame is
attached to them. I have but one favour to ask, and that is, that he
will promote Meldrum to be a gunner.'

He then shook each man by the hand, and bade them farewell. By degrees
his strength began to fail, and at last became so exhausted, that he
was unable to speak. He remained in this state until the sunset, when
another panic seized the men, from a reappearance of the sharks. The
boat gave a lurch, and the gallant commander found an end to his
sufferings in a watery grave.

Thus perished an officer, who, if it had pleased Providence to
preserve, would, in all probability, have been one of the brightest
ornaments of the service. His character combined the three great
qualities which are essential for an officer and a seaman--courage,
coolness, and decision: opportunity only was wanting to display these
parts. If he had succeeded in capturing the pirate, promotion would
without doubt have followed, and a bright and honourable career have
been open to him. But the ways of Providence are inscrutable; it was
ordained that he should undergo sufferings from which the bravest
would have shrunk with horror. Had he fallen in battle, his name would
have been recorded in history. We hope that our feeble efforts to
rescue the memory of this brave seaman from sinking into oblivion will
not have been in vain, and that his name may find an honourable place
with others who have died in the performance of their duty.

The death of their commander was sensibly felt by all, for they had
long known his kindness and courage, and when his body sank below the
waves, their hopes sank also. Mr. Maclean, a mate, and now the
commanding officer, took upon himself to direct the efforts of his
comrades, and did all that lay in his power to revive their spirits;
he assured them that if they once succeeded in righting the boat, that
there was every chance of falling in with some vessel. But twenty
hours of constant fatigue, hunger, and thirst had made fearful ravages
upon the strength of the men. Night was again approaching, and Maclean
could not conceal from himself, that when darkness came on, the
chances of their being seen by any vessel passing near were further
removed than ever. The sharks had for a time taken their departure,
but they might return at any moment; for having once tasted blood,
they were not likely to be debarred from making another attack. Two
more of the men, either worn out from fatigue, or anxious to esc