went his power of keeping his head above water. So down he sank
rapidly, to the speechless horror of the other boys, who, of course,
could lend the drowning child no help.

The captain of the forecastle, a tall, fine-looking, hard-a-weather
fellow, was standing on the shank of the sheet anchor, with his arms
across, and his well-varnished canvas bat drawn so much over his eyes
that it was difficult to tell whether he was awake, or merely dozing
in the sun, as he leaned his back against the fore-topmast backstay.
The seaman, however, had been attentively watching the young party
all the time, and, rather fearing that mischief might ensue from their
rashness, he had grunted out a warning to them from time to time, to
which they paid no sort of attention. At last he desisted, saying they
might drown themselves if they had a mind, for never a bit would he
help them; but no sooner did the sinking figure of the adventurous
little boy catch his eye, than, diver-fashion, joining the palms of
his hands over his head, he shot head-foremost into the water. The
poor lad sunk so rapidly that he was at least a couple of fathoms
under the surface before he was arrested by the grip of the sailor,
who soon rose again, bearing the bewildered boy in his hand, and,
calling to the other youngsters to take better care of their
companion, chucked him right into the belly of the sail in the midst
of the party. The fore-sheet was hanging in the calm, nearly into the
water, and by it the dripping seaman scrambled up again to his old
berth on the anchor, shook himself like a great Newfoundland dog, and
then, jumping on the deck, proceeded across the forecastle to shift
his clothes.

At the top of the ladder he was stopped by the marine officer, who had
witnessed the whole transaction, as he sat across the gangway
hammocks, watching the swimmers, and trying to get his own consent to
undergo the labour of undressing and dressing. Said the soldier to the
sailor, "That was very well done of you, my man, and right well
deserves a glass of grog. Say so to the gun-room steward as you pass;
and tell him it is my orders to fill you out a stiff norwester."

The soldier's offer was kindly meant, but rather clumsily timed, at
least so thought Jack; for though he inclined his head in
acknowledgment of the attention, and instinctively touched his hat,
when spoken to by an officer, he made no reply, till out of the
marine's hearing, when he laughed, or rathe