he pilot the task of attending to the necessary manoeuvring of the
ship, and, going forward, called for four volunteers to go with him in
the boat to handle her and assist, if it might be, in saving the
unfortunate crew of the Spanish ship. As he had anticipated, he met
with no difficulty in obtaining a sufficient number of men for his
purpose, four of his old _Bonaventure's_ at once stepping forward at his
call. Directing these men to follow him, he then returned aft to where
the boat he intended to use hung swinging from the davits and, pointing
to her, instructed his volunteers to enter her, remove the plug from her
bottom to allow all the water to run out of her, and, while this was
doing, pass out the masts, sails, and all other gear not absolutely
required in the execution of the task which the intrepid quintette were
about to undertake. Then, these things being done, the plug was
returned to its place and driven well home, the oars were unlashed, the
thole pins shipped, the tackle falls well-greased, the coils cast off
the belaying pins, and every preparation made for the delicate operation
of launching. While these matters were being attended to the young
captain stood looking on, directing the men's movements, and pondering
upon the difficulty which he foresaw in connection with the quick
release of the boat from her tackles as soon as she should become water-
borne. It was absolutely necessary that this should be infallibly
accomplished at precisely the right instant, otherwise there was the
risk on the one hand of the boat being smashed to staves by being
violently dashed against the side of the heavily rolling ship; or, upon
the other, of her being released at one end only, in which case the
unreleased end of the boat would be lifted high out of the water again
by the counter roll of the ship and her crew all flung into the water.

Suddenly he saw his way clear; the solution of the difficulty had come
to him, and he issued his orders rapidly, for time was pressing, the
_Nonsuch_ had been hove about, and was now bearing down to take up a
position just to windward of the wreck. First of all, the boat was
temporarily slung by stout ropes from the davit ends; then the tackles
were let go and unhooked. Next, two stout rope strops were passed
through the ringbolts by which the boat was suspended from the tackles
and one bight passed through the other and secured in place by a well-
greased toggle, or piece o