Then succeeded an exciting dialogue between the captain and the master,
who, being in his department, was very firm; and went so far as to say
he would not answer for the safety of the ship, if they did not sight
the land before dark.

The captain said, "Very well," and took a turn or two. But at last he
said, "No. Her Majesty's ship must not pass a raft with a man on it,
dead or alive."

He then began to give the necessary orders; but before they were all out
of his mouth, a fatal interruption occurred.

Tadcaster ran into Dr. Staines's cabin, crying, "A raft with a corpse
close by!"

Staines sprang to the quarter port to see, and craning eagerly out, the
lower port chain, which had not been well secured, slipped, the port
gave way, and as his whole weight rested on it, canted him headlong into
the sea.

A smart seaman in the forechains saw the accident, and instantly roared
out, "MAN OVERBOARD!" a cry that sends a thrill through a ship's very
ribs.

Another smart fellow cut the life-buoy adrift so quickly that it struck
the water within ten yards of Staines.

The officer of the watch, without the interval of half a moment, gave
the right orders, in the voice of a stentor;