as black satin - lifting and dipping in this ghastly glare. I
preferred to keep my eyes upon the little ship burning like a tar
barrel as the picture grew. But presently I thanked God aloud:
there was the gig swimming like a beetle over the bloodshot rollers
in our wake.

In our unspeakable gladness at being quit of the ship, some minutes
passed before we discovered that the long-boat was slowly filling.
The water was at our ankles before a man of us cried out, so fast
were our eyes to the poor lost Lady Jermyn. Then all at once the
ghastly fact dawned upon us; and I think it was the mate himself
who burst out crying like a child. I never ascertained, however,
for I had kicked off my shoes and was busy baling with them. Others
were hunting for the leak. But the mischief was as subtle as it
was mortal - as though a plank had started from end to end. Within
and without the waters rose equally - then lay an instant level with
our gunwales - then swamped us, oh! so slowly, that I thought we
were never going to sink. It was like getting inch by inch into
your tub; I can feel it now, creeping, crawling up my back. "It's
coming! 0 Christ!" muttered one as it came; to me it was a downright
relief to be carried under at last.

But then, thank God, I have always been a strong swimmer. The water
was warm and buoyant, and I came up like a cork, as I knew I should.
I shook the drops from my face, and there were the sweet stars once
more; for many an eye they had gone Out for ever; and there the
burning wreck.

A man floundered near me, in a splutter of phosphorescence. I tried
to help him, and in an instant he had me wildly round the neck. In