ced to be a good swimmer, and who nearly
lost his own life in his gallant efforts to save the life of the only
female who was on board. This man swam to the shore with one arm, while
with the other he supported the woman.

He could barely crawl up the beach through the heavy surf, dragging his
burden after him. But he succeeded, and then lay for some time
insensible. When he recovered, he found that the woman appeared to be
dead. Anxious, however, to do all in his power to restore her, he tried
to chafe her limbs; but seeing that he could make no impression, he
hastened away to search for human dwellings and send help. Four miles
did he stagger along before he came to a fishing village.

Here he told his tale; the men of the place hurried away to the scene of
the wreck, but arrived too late to be of any use.

The sailor remained some days with the fishermen, who received him
kindly, and gave him a few pence to help him on his way to the nearest
town, where he received a few shillings from some charitable persons,
and then set off to walk on foot to his native place, which happened to
be on the opposite coast of England.

The poor fellow got on very well until he came to the road which led to
the village where Jim had been so successful. All along this road he
was scouted as an impostor, and, but for his imposing size and physical
strength, would doubtless have received more kicks than halfpence. As
it was he was well-nigh starved.

Arriving one afternoon, famishing and almost knocked up, at the village,
he went in despair to the inn door, and began to tell his sorrowful
tale. He told it to unsympathetic ears. Among his auditors were the
three ploughmen who had been so roughly handled by Jim and Bill. These
only heard the first two or three sentences when they rushed upon the
sailor, calling on their comrades, who were numerous, to help them to
duck the rascal in the horse-pond.

The stout tar, although taken by surprise and overpowered, was not
disposed to submit without a struggle. He was a very Samson in
strength. Rising up by main force with two of his foes on his back, he
threw them off, drove his right fist into the eye of one, his foot into
the stomach of a second, flattened the nose of a third on his face with
a left-hander, and then wheeling round at random, plunged his elbow into
the chest of another who was coming on behind, and caused him to measure
his length on the ground. Before the rust