itnessed the embarkation, and waited till they shoved off,
and then walked to the anchor wharf to ascertain the weights of the
respective anchors of the different classes of vessels in the King's
service.

I had not been there long, when I was attracted by the squabbling
created by a soldier, who, it appeared, had quitted the ranks to run up
to the tap in the dock-yard to obtain liquor. He was very drunk, and
was followed by a young woman with a child in her arms, who was
endeavouring to pacify him.

"Now be quiet, Patrick, jewel," said she, clinging to him, "sure it's
enough that you've left the ranks, and will come to disgrace when you
get on board. Now, be quiet, Patrick, and let us ask for a boat, and
then perhaps the officer will think it was all a mistake, and let you
off aisy: and sure I'll spake to Mr O'Rourke, and he's a kind man."

"Out wid you, you cratur, it is Mr O'Rourke you'd be having a
conversation wid, and he be chucking you under that chin of yours. Out
wid you, Mary, and lave me to find my way on board. Is it a boat I
want, when I can swim like St. Patrick, wid my head under my arm, if it
wasn't on my shoulders? At all events, I can wid my nappersack and
musket to boot."

The young woman cried, and tried to restrain him, but he broke from her,
and running down to the wharf, dashed off into the water. The young
woman ran to the edge of the wharf, perceived him sinking, and shrieking
with despair, threw up her arms in her agony. The child fell, struck on
the edge of the piles, turned over, and before I could catch hold of it,
sank into the sea. "The child! the child!" burst forth in another wild
scream, and the poor creature lay at my feet in violent fits. I looked
over, the child had disappeared; but the soldier was still struggling
with his head above water. He sank and rose again--a boat was pulling
towards him, but he was quite exhausted. He threw back his arms as if
in despair, and was about disappearing under the wave, when, no longer
able to restrain myself, I leaped off the high wharf, and swam to his
assistance, just in time to lay hold of him as he was sinking for the
last time. I had not been in the water a quarter of a minute before the
boat came up to us, and dragged us on board. The soldier was exhausted
and speechless; I, of course, was only very wet. The boat rowed to the
landing-place at my request, and we were both put on shore. The
knapsack which was fixed on the s