"It's half-a-mile aft."--"A bit of wreck."--"An old sugar hogshead."--"The emperor of the porpoises."--"Is it the sea sarpint ye're maning?"--"Will hany gentleman lend me 'is hopera-glass?"--"I'm blessed if I don't think we're going to go half speed. I sailed seven years in the _Amiable_ with old Savage, and I'm blessed if he ever put her a point out of her course for anything. 'Every boat for herself, and the sea for us all,' he used to say, and allus kept his eyes forwards in foul weather."--"Aisy, Tom, aisy, ye're out of it entirely. It's the Humane Society's gold medal we'll all be getting for saving firewood."--"Stow your jaw, Pat, _that's_ not wreck, it's--" At this moment the third mate's voice rang through the ship-- "A boat bottom up!" The men passed from chaff to a silence whose eagerness could be felt, through which another voice came through the wind from the poop--"_there's something on her_!" and I turned that way, and saw the captain put down his glass, and put his hand to his mouth; and when he sang out "A MAN!" we all sprang to our feet, and opened our lips, but the boatswain put up his hand, and cried, "Silence, fore and aft! Steady, lads! Look to the captain!" The gold cap-bands glittered close together, and then, clear to be seen in a sudden gleam of moonlight, the captain leaned forward and shouted to the crew, "Fo'cs'le there!" And they sang out, "Aye, aye, sir!" "Volunteers for the whaleboat!" My heart was beating fast enough, but I do not think I could have counted a dozen throbs, before, with a wild hurrah, every man had leaped from the forecastle, Alister among them, and I was left alone. I was just wondering if I could possibly be of use, when I heard the captain's voice again. (He had come down, and was where the whaleboat was hanging, which, I learned, was fitted like a lifeboat, and the crew were crowding round him.) "Steady, lads! Stand back. Come as you're called. Thunder and lightning, we want to man the boat, not sink her. Mr. Johnson!" "Aye, aye, sir!" "A! B! C! D!" &c. "Here, sir!" "Here, sir!" "Here, sir!" "Fall back there! Thank you all, my lads, but she's manned." A loud cheer drowned every other sound, and I saw men busy with the boat, and Alister coming back with a dejected air, and the captain jumping up and down, and roaring louder than the wind: "Steward! rum, and a couple of blankets. Look sharp. Stand back; in you go; steady! Now, mind what I say; I shall bear up towards the boat. Hi, there! Stand by the lowering-tackle, and when I say 'Now!' lower away handsomely and steadily. Are you ready, Mr. Johnson? Keep steady, all, and fend her off well when you touch the water. Mr. Waters! let her go off a point or two to the north'ard. Half speed; port a little--steady! All ready in the boat?" "Aye, aye, sir!" "GOD bless you. Steady--ready--Now!"