ide of the mast, I on
the other, and neither speaking a word as we shinned up the `Jacob's
ladder.'

So we climbed up to the cap of the topgallant-mast in company; but, as
far apart as the poles, though so close together.

Then, each of us set about in his own fashion, without minding the
other, to disentangle the fly of the pennant, which had been whipped by
the wind round the halliards till it had formed itself into half a dozen
granny's knots.

We were holding on to the royal lift and brace, both of us, each with
one hand while with the other we tried to unloose the closely knotted
bunting, our faces almost touching each other, and still without ever
saying a word; when, all at once, through some one having neglected his
duty when the topgallant-mast was sent aloft after the gale, the ends of
the lift and brace slipped off the jack, to which they had been only
loosely secured, leaving `Ugly' and I suspended in the air partly by the
signal halliards and partly by the flag, which latter parted with a
ripping sound that I hear now in my ears as I speak of it. Aye, and as
I always shall hear it, I believe!

I heard also at the time, confused cries and orders from below, singing
out I know not what.

My companion's face was close to mine as we swung from the feeble cord
and more fragile stuff that interposed between us and eternity; a fall
to the deck beneath or into the sea meaning death in one way or the
other, either by drowning or by a more cruel fate.

I could see into his very soul, I think, at that awful moment, and he
into mine!

It all occurred in an instant, recollect!

But in that instant `Ugly' had time to break the silence that had
existed between us since our fight on the forecastle of the _Saint
Vincent_ and my rescue of him aboard the same ship later on.

He spoke to me, at last, now.

"To-am Bowlin'," whispered he hoarsely, "two chaps can't hang on yere
fur long. I'll give oop fur 'ee, me lad. Here goes!"

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

"HIS LAST MUSTER!"

On that, the noble fellow, who thus unselfishly sacrificed his life for
mine, fell with a whiz through the air that seemed to send the wind up
into my face, down to the deck below.

Cannoning against the rigging on the port side, he was caught up in the
belly of the mizzen-top sail, which slightly stopped the impetus of his
descent, but, the concussion broke his spine, and when I, pale,
trembling, and almost as lifeless as he, coming down f