n
the water made by our swimming through it, and he hailed, of course; we
gave no answer, but swam as fast as we could; for after he had hailed we
heard a bustle, and we knew that the officer of the watch was manning a
boat to send after us. I had just caught hold of the cable of the West
Indiaman, and was about to climb up by it, for I was a few yards before
Hastings, when I heard a loud shriek, and, turning round, perceived a
shark plunging down with Hastings in his jaws. I was so frightened,
that for a short time I could not move: at last I recovered myself, and
began to climb up by the cable as fast as I could. I was just in time,
for another shark made a rush at me; and although I was clear out of the
water more than two feet, he sprung up and just caught my shoe by the
heel, which he took down with him. Fear gave me strength, and in a
second or two afterwards I was up at the hawse-holes, and the men on
board, who had been looking over the bows, and had witnessed poor
Hastings' death, helped me on board, and hurried me down below, for the
boat from our ship was now nearly alongside. When the officer of the
boat came on board, they told him they had perceived us both in the
water, close to their vessel, and that the sharks had taken us down. As
the shriek of Hastings was heard by the people in the boat, the officer
believed that it was the case, and returned to the ship. I heard the
drum beat to quarters on board of the man-of-war, that they might
ascertain who were the two men who had attempted to swim away, and a few
minutes afterwards they beat the retreat, having put down D.D. against
my name on the books, as well as against that of poor Hastings."

"What does D.D. mean?"

"D stands for discharged from the service; D.D. stands for dead,"
replied Ready; "and it was only through the mercy of Providence that I
was not so."

"It was a miraculous escape indeed," observed Mr Seagrave.

"Yes, indeed, sir; I can hardly describe my sensations for some hours
afterwards. I tried to sleep, but could not--I was in agony. The
moment I slumbered, I thought the shark had hold of me, and I would
start up and shriek; and then I said my prayers and tried to go to sleep
again, but it was of no use. The captain of the West Indiaman was
afraid that my shrieks would be heard, and he sent me down a tumbler of
rum to drink off; this composed me, and at last I fell into a sound
sleep. When I awoke, I found that the ship wa