nd
being the necessity of getting hold of Mr Macdougall as soon as I
could; and when I had recovered from the half-suffocating feeling
produced by my impromptu long dive beneath the Atlantic rollers, I
raised myself on the top of one of these, and proceeded to look for the
first mate, who ought, I thought, to be pretty close to me.

The water struck bitterly cold, as I trod it down in order to elevate
myself as much as I could and so have a wider view around, for it made
my limbs feel as if cramp was coming on; but I kicked out vigorously,
and the sensation passing off I began to feel more at home in the water,
and as confident as if I were bathing off the shore at Beachampton--
albeit I was now having a bath in the middle of the Southern ocean, with
my ship almost half a mile from me by this time!

I did not see Mr Macdougall anywhere at first, so I feared that the
force with which the boom sheet had come against his chest might have so
injured him as to paralyse his movements when he fell overboard; but,
presently, when I rose on the crest of another huge rolling billow that
took me up a little higher aloft, I saw him struggling in one of the
watery valleys between the ridges of the waves about half a cable's
length away to the windward of me, so that I was between him and the
ship, whose sails alone now were all I could see of her from my low
position in the water.

Catching sight of him, at once inspired me with fresh courage, making me
as buoyant as a cork; and I faced the task before me, offering up a
heartfelt prayer that I might accomplish it successfully.

"Hold up, Mr Macdougall! I'm coming to help you!" I cried out as
loudly as I could, for he seemed just then, from the look of despair I
saw on his face, to be on the point of chucking up his hands and
allowing himself to sink to the bottom, impressed probably with the
hopelessness of attempting to reach the vessel. Then, striking out with
a good strong breast-stroke, which is worth all your fancy side business
in rough water, I made towards him; although, having to go against the
set of the sea, I found it much harder work than merely keeping myself
afloat, which was all that I had previously tried to do, without
actually swimming.

He did not hear my shout, being to windward; but, when I rose presently
on another wave-crest nearer him, I could perceive that he saw me, from
the way in which he raised one of his arms in his excitement--the effect
of w