broken limbs, and
dress wounds, as well as the surgeon himself, while he had a good
knowledge of the use of all the drugs in the medicine-chest. Boxall had
indeed a good head on his shoulders, and was respected by all.

Many of us were still laughing at the commander's capsize, some
declaring that it served him right for being in such a hurry.

"Let me tell you youngsters that we must be in a hurry on board this
craft," observed Boxall. "Do you know the name given to ten-gun brigs
such as ours? I will tell you: `Sea-Coffins.' And the _Viper_ will
prove _our_ coffin, if we do not keep very wide-awake, let me warn you."

Most of the mess thought that old Boxall was trying to frighten them;
but I cannot say that I was comfortable, as we had already discovered
that the brig, to say the best of her, was excessively crank. The two
lieutenants and the master had served chiefly on board line-of-battle
ships and frigates before they got their promotion, and were inclined to
sneer at the commander's caution, and I know that during their watch
they carried on much longer than he would have approved of.

We were somewhere in the latitude of Madeira, when we encountered a
heavy gale which severely tried the brig. Though we saved our spars by
shortening sail in time, two of our boats were lost and the rest
damaged, our weather-bulwarks were stove in, and we were in other
respects handled very roughly.

We had got somewhat to rights, and were running down the African coast,
keeping closer in-shore than usual. It was night, and the second
lieutenant's watch. Boxall and I--who had the first watch--having been
relieved, went into the berth to take a glass of "swizzel" and some
biscuit and cheese, after which we sat talking for some minutes before
turning in. The rest of the watch were below fast asleep. We were
standing by our hammocks, about to undress, when we felt the brig heel
over on her beam-ends.

"I advised him to shorten sail before he let the watch go below,"
exclaimed Boxall. "It's too late now. Stick by me, Charlie, whatever
happens."

"Turn out there, and save ship!" he shouted, as we sprang on deck; and
together we made our way up to the starboard hammock-nettings, on which
we found several people clinging, but in the darkness could not make out
who they were. The water was rushing in fast through the hatches, and
the brig was evidently sinking. Shrieks and cries for help came from
the lee side, to wh