I found that a few
strokes quite exhausted me, and I was obliged to turn and cling to the
gunwale. In fact, so great was the loss of strength which we had all
suffered, that we came near perishing in a very singular and almost
incredible manner: After having been in the water a sufficient time, as
I thought, I discovered, on trying to get into the boat again, that I
was utterly unable to do so, through sheer weakness. At the same time I
observed Max making a similar attempt nearer the stern, with no better
success. We were all in the water except Johnny; any difficulty in
getting into the boat again had not been dreamed of; but I began now to
feel seriously alarmed. My feet were drawn forcibly under the boat's
bottom, and even to maintain my hold of the gunwale, as we rose and sunk
with the swell, required an exhausting effort, which I knew I could not
long continue. Arthur was swimming near the stern, holding on to the
end of a rope, which he had cast over before coming in. By great
exertion I raised myself so far as to be able to look over the gunwale,
when I saw Browne in the same position directly opposite me.

"Can't you get into the boat!" I asked.

"Really, I don't think I can," said he, speaking like a person
exhausted.

"I can't," added Max, faintly, "it is as much as I can do to maintain my
hold." At this moment a voice was heard, calling out apparently from a
distance, "Hilloa! where are you? Hilloa!" It was hoarse, strained,
and distressed. Almost immediately the cry was repeated, much nearer at
hand, as it seemed; and then, a third time, faint, and distant as at
first. I was horror-stricken; the cry sounded strange and fearful, and
I did not recognise the voice. Then it occurred to me that it must be
Morton, who had swum out farther than the rest, and losing sight of the
boat for a moment in the swell of the sea, had become bewildered and
alarmed. This might easily happen; if but the length of a wave distant
we should be invisible to him, unless both should chance to rise on the
swell at the same time. The moon, too, had just passed behind a dark
mass of cloud, and the sea lay in partial obscurity. I now heard Browne
and Arthur shouting, in order, as I supposed, to guide Morton by the
sound of their voices. I, too, called out as loudly as I was able. For
a moment all was still again. Then I heard some one say, "There he is!"
and a dark speck appeared on the crest of a wave a little to