d
instead of her being a ship to float out the fiercest storms, here we
were loaded down, so that she lay rolling and pitching in a way that her
seams began to open, and soon every hand had to take his turn at the
pumps.

The days broke heavy and cloudy, and the nights came on with the
darkness awful, and the gale seeming to get fiercer and fiercer, till at
last, worn out, sailors and passengers gave up, the pumps were
abandoned, and refusing one and all to stay below, men and women were
clustered together, getting the best shelter they could.

"I don't like to see a good new ship go to the bottom like this," I
shouted in one of my mates' ears, and he shouted back something about
iron; and I nodded, for we all knew that those great pillars down below
were enough to sink the finest vessel that ever floated.

Just then I saw the skipper go below, while the gentleman who was going
out to superintend was busy lashing one of the life-buoys to his wife.

"That ain't no good," I shouted to him, going up on hands and knees, for
the sea at times was enough to wash you overboard, as she dipped and
rolled as though she would send her masts over the side every moment.
But I got to where they were holding on at last; and seeing that,
landsman-like, he knew nothing of knotting and lashing, I made the
life-buoy fast, just as a great wave leaped over the bows, and swept the
ship from stern to stern.

As soon as I could get my breath, I looked round, to find that where the
mate and three passengers were standing a minute before, was now an
empty space; while on running to the poop, and looking over, there was
nothing to be seen but the fierce rushing waters.

I got back to where those two were clinging together, and though feeling
selfish, as most men would, I couldn't help thinking how sad it would be
for a young handsome couple like them to be lost, for I knew well enough
that though she was lashed to the life-buoy, the most that would do
would be to keep her afloat till she died of cold and exhaustion.

"Can nothing be done?" Mr Vallance--for that was his name--shouted in
my ear.

"Well," I said, shouting again, "if I was captain, I should run all
risks, and get some of that iron over the side."

"Why don't he do it, then?" he exclaimed; and of course, being nobody on
board that ship, I could only shake my head.

Just then Mrs Vallance turned upon me such a pitiful look, as she took
tighter hold of her husband--a look th