"Helm's a-lee!" then came from aft, followed by the orders "Tacks and sheets!" and "Mainsail haul!" when, the _Josephine's_ bows paying off under the influence of the tacked head-sails, the yards were swung round in a trice; and, within less than five minutes the vessel was retracing the same track she had just gone over in quest of the missing man. A man was sent up in the foretop, while Captain Miles himself ran up the ratlines of the mizzen shrouds to look out; and, at the same time, preparations were made for lowering the gig, which fortunately was still slung from the davits astern, not having been yet housed inboard with the other boats amidships--that being the next job the captain intended seeing to after the anchors were got in. I, of course, was as much excited as anyone, and remained on the forecastle, looking out eagerly for any sign of Jackson, although I could not see him anywhere. I believe I was so confused with the ship having gone round on the opposite tack, in order to go back on her course, that I hardly knew in which direction to look for the unfortunate man, for what had before been ahead of the ship was now necessarily astern from her reversing her position. In another minute, however, the look out in the foretop discerned Jackson, and he hailed the deck at once. "There he is! there he is!" he sang out. "Where?" cried Captain Miles impatiently. "About four cables' length off the weather bow. I can see his head quite clear above the wash of the sea; and he seems swimming towards us." "All right then, keep your eye on him, so as to pilot us! Mr Marline," continued Captain Miles, "lower the boat at once with four hands; we can't go close enough without it to the poor fellow, for we are to leeward of him." "Aye, aye, sir," replied the chief mate, who had gone aft and was seeing to the falls of the boat; which presently, with himself in the stern- sheets and four hands to pull the oars, was lowered down all standing, the helmsman "luffing up" at the proper moment, so that the way of the ship might be arrested to prevent the gig being upset before getting on an even keel in the sea, it being a rather ticklish thing to launch a boat from a vessel under sail. Luckily, however, the manoeuvre was safely accomplished without any mishap, the fall tackles being unhitched the instant the gig touched the water; and then, the boat's crew shipping their oars without delay, she was pulled off to windward of us in the direction indicated by the look out man in the foretop, who with his hand extended pointed the course to be steered. The _Josephine_ meanwhile gathered way again slowly and followed astern of the boat, although somewhat more to leeward, the wind being almost in her teeth and the ship having to sail close-hauled.