situation, and was observing with painful solicitude the struggles of a
person about ten fathoms from him.

"Stand by to lay on your oars!" said Mr. Boulong with energy, when the
first cutter was within a boat's length of the individual. "Hold water!
Stand by to haul him in, Knott!" he added to the bow man. "Stern all!"

These orders were given as the boat came within her length of the man; and
Knott was unshipping his oar, when the stranger raised his left hand,
pointing to the struggling person he had been observing in spite of the
near approach of the cutter.

"Save that man first, for he is drowning!" he shouted in tones full of
anxiety, if not positive suffering. "I can take care of myself for a while
longer."

Mr. Boulong's vision had taken in the drowning man, and he fully realized
that the person's situation was desperate, if he was not already hopelessly
lost. He had struggled and twisted himself in his involuntary efforts, till
his life-preserver had worked its way down to his hips, and then it
overthrew him; for he turned a somerset, and disappeared under a coming
wave. He had utterly "lost his head," and was like an infant in the fury of
the billows.

The men were still backing water with their oars, in obedience to the order
of the officer; but as soon as the oars would go clear of the
self-possessed gentleman, Mr. Boulong gave the command to "Give way!" and
again the cutter went ahead.

It required but a few strokes to give the necessary headway to the boat;