ght have been hazardous; but the
second mate, who was the best of the officers, at once shouted out for
volunteers to lower the boat.

"Hold hard," says the captain; "I'll not have the hands thrown away for
a careless, useless lubber who can't hold fast."

I had run aft when I heard some one say that the man who had gone was
Tom Trivett. Without waiting for orders I hove overboard an oar and a
hen-coop, with half-a-dozen cackling hens in it, which not having been
properly secured, had fetched away. In my excitement I was proceeding
to throw some spars and other articles into the sea, when the captain,
catching sight of me, ordered me to desist.

"Let the fellow drown," he exclaimed; "it's his own fault, and it'll be
a lesson to the rest of you."

Though the men had no love for Tom Trivett, bad as they were these
remarks greatly enraged them.

"He cares no more for our lives than he does for that of a dog. It
would have been just the same if any of us had gone," exclaimed several
of them.

The passengers were very indignant at the captain's barbarity. Two of
them had been ready to go in the boat, and they all declared that the
seaman might have been saved if proper efforts had immediately been
made. I heard the captain in a peremptory tone tell them to hold their
tongues, as they knew nothing about the matter. He was captain of the
ship, and would act as he thought fit, and not endanger her safety for
the sake of a single man who was not worth his salt. I deeply grieved
for Tom since I discovered that he had been my firm friend, and I truly
believed that I owed my life to him. Had it been daylight we might have
watched to see whether he had got hold of any of the things thrown
overboard, but almost immediately after he fell he was lost to view.
The gale lasted only a short time. We made sail again as soon as we
could, and quickly lost sight of the other vessels.

Now that Tom Trivett had gone, my position became harder than ever, as I
had no friend to stand up for me. I had often been protected by him
when the others were inclined to bully me, and thus escaped many a cuff
and kick. Julius Caesar was the only person who befriended me, and he
didn't dare to do so openly. He often, indeed, appeared to be bullying
me worse than the rest. I had been ordered to assist in cleaning his
pots and pans, and sweeping out the caboose. Whenever the rigging had
to be blacked down I was sent to do it, and was calle