Tales of the Sea | Page 6

to me."
The captain and mate at last took their turns with the rest of us, for the
crew were getting worn out. I did not know the danger we were in, but I
was beginning to get tired of that dreadful "clank, clank, clank."
At last, by dint of keeping at it, we had got a good way to the
southward, when one night, just as we had gone about hoping to lay our
course for the Thames, the wind shifted and came again right in our
teeth. I had turned into my wet bunk all standing, when, having
dropped off to sleep, I was awoke by a tremendous crash, and on
springing up on deck I found that the mainmast had gone by the board.
The gale had increased, and we were driving before it. As I made my
way aft, the flashes of lightning revealed the pale faces of the crew,
some endeavouring to clear away the wreck of the mast, others working
with frantic energy at the pumps. The leaks had increased. As may be
supposed, the deeply-laden collier had but a poor chance under such
circumstances. Presently the vessel gave a heavy lurch. A sea rolled up.
The next instant I found myself struggling in the midst of the foaming
surges. All around was dark; I felt for the deck of the vessel, it was not
beneath me; I had been washed overboard. I struck out for life, and in
another minute I was clinging to the mainmast, which had been cut
clear. I clambered up on it, and looked out for the brig. She was
nowhere to be seen; she must have gone down beneath the surge which
washed me from her deck. What had become of my shipmates? I
shouted again and again at the top of my voice. There was a faint cry,
"Help me; help me." I knew the voice; it was Clement's. Leaving the
mast, I swam towards him; he was lashed to a spar. The old captain's
last act had been to try and save the young boy's life ere he himself
sank beneath the waves. I caught hold of the spar, bidding Clement
keep his head above the water while I towed it to the mast. I succeeded,
and then clambering on it, and casting off the lashings, dragged him up
and placed him beside me. We hailed again and again, but no voice
replied. It may seem strange that we, the two youngest on board, should
have survived, while all the men were drowned, but then, not one of

them could swim. We could, and, under Providence, were able to
struggle for our lives.
I did my best to cheer up little Clem, telling him that if we could
manage to hold on till daylight, as a number of vessels were certain to
pass, we should be picked up. "I am very, very sorry, Clem, for your
father," I said; "for though he was somewhat gruff to me, he was a
kind-hearted man, I am sure."
"That indeed he was," answered Clement, in a tone of sorrow. "He was
always good to me; but he was not my father, as you fancy--the more
reason I have to be grateful to him."
"Not your father, Clem!" I exclaimed. "I never suspected that."
"No, he was not; though he truly acted the part of one to me. Do you
know, Brooke, this is not the first time that I have been left alone
floating on the ocean? I was picked up by him just as you hope that we
shall be picked up. I was a very little fellow, so little that I could give
no account of myself. He found a black woman and me floating all
alone on a raft out in the Atlantic. She died almost immediately we
were rescued, without his being able to learn anything from her. He had
to bury her at sea, and when he got home he in vain tried to find out my
friends, though he preserved, I believe, the clothes I had on, and most
of her clothes. He sent me to an excellent school, where I was well
taught; and Mrs Grimes, who was a dear, kind lady, far more refined
than you would suppose his wife to have been, acted truly like a mother
to me. He was very fond of her, and when she died, nearly a year ago,
he took me to sea with him. I did not, however, give up my studies, but
used to sit in the cabin, and every day read as much as I could. Captain
Grimes used to say that he was sure I was a gentleman born, and a
gentleman he wished me to be, and so I have always