by the swimmer
struggling for his life.

"Starboard!" shouted Mark. "Pull, my lads, pull. Starboard a little
more."

"Starboard it is," cried the officer. "See him still?"

"Yes," cried Mark. "Oh, pull, my lads, pull, or he'll go down before we
get to him. Now port a little: they're pulling stronger on one side
than on the other--not too much. That's right. Yes, I can--no, he is
down in the hollow. There he is again. Pull your hardest," he cried,
excitedly; and the men jerked at their oars as they cheered.

"Hold on; we're coming," cried Mark to the drowning man, thoughtless of
the fact that the negro would not understand his words, even if he heard
them, which was doubtful in the wild agony of his struggle, as with
breath growing short, weak as he was from confinement, he struck out
more quickly, and fought hard with the waves for his unhappy life.

"See him still?" cried Mark's companion, as the boat made the water
foam.

"Yes--no--no," said Mark, hoarsely; "he's down in the hollow again.
Straight on. We're going right for him, and--"

"Don't say he has gone down," cried the officer.

"No; I shall see him directly. We must be close to him now. Ready
there with the boathook."

"Ay, ay, sir," cried the man in the bows, as he stood up ready to make a
snatch at the drowning man. "See him, sir?"

Mark was silent as he strained his eyes over the surface of the sea,
looking vainly for the struggling figure which had been making so brave
a fight for life. There was a terrible feeling of dread oppressing him,
as for the first time he was face to face with death; and in those awful
moments he was unconscious of the regular reports of the guns as the
_Nautilus_ kept up her fire at the flying schooner. He heard nothing,
saw nothing but the sea shimmering in the moonbeams. For after a long
and desperate fight, with the water rising higher about his lips, the
unfortunate black had grown weaker and weaker, and at last had given one
tremendous plunge, which raised him high, so that he could glare wildly
round for help; then he had ceased his struggle and gone slowly down,
the water closing over his staring eyes and glistening teeth; there were
a few bubbles, and the sea heaved and fell gently over the spot where he
sank.

"I have been close here, sir," cried the coxswain.

"Easy, my lads," cried the young lieutenant in command. "Can't you see
him, Van? Oh, hang it, lad, look! We mustn't let the poor