Under Drakes Flag | Page 3

him, for he seems to be able to live, in water, as
well as on land."
The lad of whom they were speaking was a bright-faced boy, of some
fifteen years of age. He was squarely built, and his dress differed a little
from that of the fisher lads standing on the beach.
"Who is he?" asked Captain Drake.
"He is the son of the schoolmaster here, a learned man, and they do say
one who was once wealthy. The lad himself would fain go to sea, but
his father keeps him here. It is a pity, for he is a bold boy, and would
make a fine sailor."
The Otter, as he had been called, had now come down to the beach; and,
with his hands shading his eyes from the spray, sheets of which the
wind carried along with blinding force, he gazed at the ship and the sea,
with a steady intentness.
"I think I can get out to her," he said, to the fishermen.
"It is madness, boy," Captain Drake said. "There are few men, indeed,
so far as I know, in these climes--I talk not of the heathens of the
Western Islands--who could swim through a breaking sea, like yonder."
"I think I can do it," the boy said, quietly. "I have been out in as heavy
seas before, and if one does but choose one's time, and humor them a
bit, the waves are not much to be feared, after all.

"Get me the light line," he said, to the sailors, "and I will be off, at
once."
So saying, he carelessly threw off his clothes. The fishermen brought a
light line. One end they fastened round his shoulders and, with a
cheerful goodbye, he ran down to the water's edge.
The sea was breaking with tremendous violence, and the chance of the
lad's getting out, through the breakers, appeared slight, indeed. He
watched, however, quietly for three or four minutes, when a wave
larger than usual broke on the beach. Following it out, he stood knee
deep, till the next great wave advanced; then, with a plunge, he dived in
beneath it. It seemed an age before he was again seen, and Captain
Drake expressed his fear that his head must have been dashed against a
rock, beneath the water.
But the men said:
"He dives like a duck, sir, and has often frighted us by the time he
keeps under water. You will see, he will come up beyond the second
line of waves."
It seemed an age, to the watchers, before a black spot appeared
suddenly, beyond the foaming line of breakers. There was a general
shout of "There he is!" But they had scarce time to note the position of
the swimmer, when he again disappeared. Again and again he came up,
each time rapidly decreasing the distance between himself and the
shipwrecked vessel; and keeping his head above the waves for a few
seconds, only, at each appearance.
The people in the vessel were watching the progress of the lad, with
attention and interest even greater than was manifested by those on
shore; and as he approached the ship, which already showed signs of
breaking up, a line was thrown to him. He caught it, but instead of
holding on and being lifted to the ship, he fastened the light rope which
he had brought out to it, and made signs to them to haul.
"Fasten a thicker rope to it," he shouted, "and they will haul it in, from

the shore."
It would have been no easy matter to get on board the ship; so, having
done his work, the lad turned to make his way back to the shore.
A thick rope was fastened, at once, by those of the crew who still
remained on the deck of the vessel, to the lighter one; and those on
shore began to pull it rapidly in; but, ere the knotted joint reached the
shore, a cry from all gathered on the beach showed that the brave
attempt of the Otter had been useless. A tremendous sea had struck the
ship, and in a moment it broke up; and a number of floating fragments,
alone, showed where a fine vessel had, a few minutes before, floated on
the sea.
The lad paused in his course towards the shore and, looking round,
endeavored to face the driving wind and spray; in hopes that he might
see, among the fragments of the wreck, some one to whom his
assistance might be of use. For a time, he could see no signs of a
human being among the floating masses of wreck; and indeed, he was
obliged to use great caution in keeping away from these, as a blow
from any of the larger spars