ined to follow, but I distrusted my own powers of
swimming. I had, however, what was of far more use, presence of mind to
run aft and drop a grating, which was fortunately at hand, over the
side, and shout out, at the top of my voice, "Man overboard!"

While some ladies gathered round the poor mother, who was almost frantic
with grief, and others attended to the nurse, who had gone off in a
swoon, the captain issued the necessary orders for shortening sail; for,
with all the flying-kites set, it was impossible, until the canvas was
taken off the ship, to bring her up to the wind.

The judge, in the meantime, retained his calmness and presence of mind
in a wonderful manner. My father, Lejoillie, Tim Flanagan, and two or
three others, made preparations, under the superintendence of the second
mate, for lowering a boat, every man of the crew being required to
shorten sail. The helm was put down, the yards braced up, and the ship
quickly brought to the wind. I was going to assist in lowering the
boat, when the captain called me aft, and told me to keep an eye on Mr.
Rochford and the child.

Not having stopped to throw off his clothes, the moment he reached the
water he struck out towards the boy, who had just risen after his first
plunge: his head, I saw, was above the surface, and he had unconsciously
turned on his back, stretching out his little arms for help. In another
instant Rochford got up, and holding the child's face well out of the
water, was evidently trying to dispel his fears; then looking round, he
saw the grating, towards which he at once swam, and placed the child
upon it. All this time the ship was, of course, running away from the
spot, and gradually he and his little charge became less and less
distinct. I saw, however, that he was holding on to the grating, which,
I was thankful to see, perfectly supported the child. A very long time
seemed to elapse before I heard the order to put the helm down, and I
even fancied that the ship was running away altogether from where little
Paul and Rochford were floating. But what was my horror just then to
see a black fin come gliding by. On the previous day we had passed
several huge monsters of the deep. What if the shark should discover
our fellow-passenger! I longed to be able to shout out to him to keep
his legs moving; but he could not have heard me, even if I had shouted
ever so loudly, and by so doing I should have still further alarmed the
judge