g ocean. Nearer and
nearer he approached. I was more anxious for him than for my human
friend, as I was afraid the albatrosses would attack him, and he had no
means of defending himself. Although I had followed Oliver almost
immediately into the water, it seemed a long time before I could get up
to him. A curling wave rolled towards him; he was buried beneath it. I
thought he had sunk for ever. I darted forward, and caught sight of him
just beneath the surface. I seized him by the collar of his jacket, and
together we rose to the surface. He was still conscious.

"Throw yourself on your back!" I cried. I helped him to do so. And
now I struck out for the life-buoy. A sea providentially threw it
towards us. Sooner than I could have expected I had hold of it, and had
placed one of the beckets in Oliver's hands. Not a moment too soon. I
turned my glance upward for an instant at the bright blue sky, out of
which the hot sun shone on the sparkling waters. Suddenly a dark shadow
seemed to intervene. I heard a rushing sound, distinct amid the roar of
the waves, and, to my horror, I saw close above me a huge pair of white
wings, from which projected the head and formidable beak of a bird. He
was darting towards me. A blow from that beak might have struck either
of us senseless. The only means of defence I could think of was my
shoe. I pulled it from my foot to ward off the blow. The bird seized
it, and, as if content with his prize, off he flew. A shout of applause
from Potto Jumbo reached us, and in another minute he and Merlin got up
to the life-buoy. A sea was on the point of taking off Oliver, but
Merlin seized him by the collar, and dragged him back within my reach.
Satisfied for the moment, he kept swimming round and round us, as if
prepared to render any assistance which might be required. I was indeed
thankful that he had come, for I could with difficulty help Oliver to
hold on to the life-buoy. Another, and another bird flew towards us,
but whether frightened at our shouts, or the flourish of Potto Jumbo's
sharp blade, I do not know, but, circling round, they flew off again as
if in search of other prey.

We could now see the ship hove to. A boat was lowered, but so long was
she before shoving off, so it seemed to me, that we were afraid some
accident had happened. One idea occurred to me while in the water.
Should I be lost, what would become of Emily? I thought of the prayer
of the sinkin