that arrested his dive, and brought him up with a slant, shocked and
panting, drenched and confused. The next moment he saw, as through a
fog--his eyes being full of water--something fall from the ship. He
breasted the big waves, and swam towards it: it rose on the top of a
wave, and he saw it was a life-buoy. Encumbered with wet clothes, he
seemed impotent in the big waves; they threw him up so high, and down so
low.

Almost exhausted, he got to the life-buoy, and clutched it with a fierce
grasp and a wild cry of delight. He got it over his head, and, placing
his arms round the buoyant circle, stood with his breast and head out of
water, gasping.

He now drew a long breath, and got his wet hair out of his eyes, already
smarting with salt water, and, raising himself on the buoy, looked out
for help.

He saw, to his great concern, the ship already at a distance. She seemed
to have flown, and she was still drifting fast away from him.

He saw no signs of help. His heart began to turn as cold as his drenched
body. A horrible fear crossed him.

But presently he saw the weather-boat filled, and fall into the water;
and then a wave rolled between him and the ship, and he only saw her
topmast.

The next time he rose on a mighty wave he saw the boats together astern
of the vessel, but not coming his way; and the gloom was thickening, the
ship becoming indistinct, and all was doubt and horror.