n struck down by the maniac's blow, had he not
sprung nimbly aside, and then, rushing in, he closed with the wretched
being, and wrenched the weapon out of his grasp. The madman's strength
was exhausted.

"I yield! I yield me!" he cried; and though he was a tall man, Peter
lifted him up as he had done the others, and handed him to us. He lay
quiet enough in the bottom of the boat, regarding the wreck he was
leaving with a stare of wonder.

Three other men were lifted in, but still the mate refused to leave
while any remained alive on board. As we were leaving the wreck a
second time, a man lifted himself up from the deck, and stood for a
moment gazing at us.

"What! again deserted!" he exclaimed, shrieking frantically. "Oh, take
me! take me!" and staggering forward, before the mate could prevent him
he cast himself headlong into the sea. We endeavoured to put back, but
he floated scarcely a moment, and then the foaming waters closed over
his head. It was another of the numberless instances I have witnessed
of the crime and folly of not waiting with calmness and resignation for
what the Almighty has in his providence prepared for us. I trust that
the poor man's mind had given way in this instance; but even that result
is often produced by a want of reliance on God's mercy.

We put our hapless freight on board the brig, and a third time returned
to the wreck. Besides the brave mate, Peter found only two more people
alive on board. Several were dead. At the earnest solicitation of the
mate, Peter helped him to commit them to the deep. It was a melancholy
and loathsome task, for some had been long dead.

The delay also was of serious consequence. More than once I summoned
Peter, for another thick squall of rain had come on, and when I glanced
round for an instant to look for the brig, she was nowhere to be seen!
A pang of dread ran through my heart, and all sorts of horrid ideas
rushed into my head. I thought that the squall might have struck her,
and that she might have capsized, or that she might have drifted so far
to leeward that we might not be able to find her. I said nothing,
however, but helped Peter to take the mate and the other two survivors
off the wreck. Then, indeed, the question pressed on us, What has
become of the brig?

"Cheer up, my lads!" cried Peter; "hold on yet a while; we'll see her
presently."

We waited with intense anxiety, and the darkness seemed every instant
increasing.