d made the discovery that we had lost our bowsprit and
main-topgallant mast, as well as the fore-topmast, and that we had more
than four feet of water in the hold. All this, mind you, with night
close upon us!

The loss of all head sail of course at once rendered the brig
unmanageable, and thus--apart from the effect of the further damage
sustained--our situation immediately became one of the extremest peril,
a circumstance which, coupled with the tragic disappearance of their
leader from their midst, completely cowed and subdued the survivors, to
the extent, indeed, of impelling them to come aft and implore me to take
full command of the brig. Needless to say I made no difficulty about
acceding to this request; for prompt measures were imperative if the
vessel was to be saved, and, with her, Florence's and my own life; so
without pausing to read the men a moral lesson upon the evils of
intemperance, I forthwith issued orders for the goose-winged foresail to
be set, by which means we were at length enabled to get the brig before
the wind, and thus escape the immediate peril of being swamped. This
achieved, the wreck of the fore-topmast and bowsprit was cut away, all
canvas was furled, and the brig was once more brought to the wind, and
hove-to under bare poles. Then, although the men were inclined to
grumble, I insisted upon their going to the pumps and relieving the brig
of at least a portion of the water in her hold; for there were times
when, the water having accumulated forward, the poor little craft became
pinned down by the head to so dangerous an extent that it would have
been absolutely suicidal to have left her in that condition. The
fellows toiled on until past two bells in the middle watch--by which
time they had reduced the depth of water in the hold to two feet--and
then knocked off, utterly exhausted, to go below and turn in; while I
undertook to keep the deck and watch the ship for the remainder of the
night.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

OUR ESCAPE AND RESCUE.

The brig, as she lay hove-to, rode comparatively easy and dry, requiring
no attention; all, therefore, that I had to do was to maintain a sharp
lookout, and be ready to show a light betimes in the event of another
craft heaving in sight and steering such a course as would be likely to
bring her foul of us. But while my self-imposed duty was thus a light
one, demanding only alertness on my part, the situation and condition of
the brig were such