e upon a wave from the watery abyss in which
the previous dialogue had taken place.

"I hope so, laddie, I hope so," said Mr Macdougall, but his words did
not sound very cheering, and I went on swimming hard, saying nothing
further. By-and-bye, just when my strength began to fail again, and I
felt that I could never get over the distance that separated us from the
vessel, I saw to my joy a large object floating near.

"Hullo!" I cried, "here's a boat, or raft, or something in sight; cheer
up, Mr Macdougall, we're saved!"

But, he was so worn out with the exposure, and his previous efforts to
keep up before I went to his assistance, that he had now almost lost the
power of speech, only moaning something like "Eh, laddie?" behind me.

I saw, therefore, that I must now trust entirely to my own exertions for
our joint safety--the more so since that, as the mate lost his
consciousness, although still keeping hold of me in the way I had
directed him, his limp, passive weight pressed me down lower and lower
in the water; so, putting out all my energies for a final effort, and
clenching my teeth together with grim determination, I struggled
forward, swimming as hard as I could towards the floating object I had
seen, and which I had caught sight of only just in time.

One stroke--two--three--and a roller throws me back again. I renew the
contest--another stroke, accompanied by as vigorous a kick out as I can
manage, with Mr Macdougall's prostrate body touching my legs; and
then--I clutch hold of the thing at last--hurrah!

It was a large hencoop, which used to be fixed on the starboard side of
the _Esmeralda's_ poop; so I suppose some one must have pitched it
overboard after me the moment I gave the alarm.

But, no matter when it was sent adrift or why, it now saved both our
lives; for I don't believe I could have swum a stroke further, while as
for Mr Macdougall, he was already like a man dead.

There was a piece of rope lashed round the coop, and with this I at once
made the mate fast to it, raising his head well up, and shouting in his
ears to revive him.

In a minute or two, he opened his eyes, and appeared more like himself,
a smile spreading over his face, as if in thankfulness for escaping
death.

As for me, I was as right as a trivet now that I had come across such a
splendid raft; and, climbing on top, and balancing myself so as not to
let it lurch over, I proceeded to look for the ship--which I had almost