I had not lost presence of mind as yet, but once more set about
considering how I might be able to keep above water. I could easily
slide up the staff without taking out a single button; but once up, how
could I remain there? I should certainly come slipping down again. Oh!
that there was only a notch--a knot--a nail--if I only had a knife to
make a nick; but knot, notch, nail, knife, nick--all were alike denied
me. Stay! I was wrong, decidedly wrong. I remembered just then that
while attempting to get over the barrel, I had noticed that the staff
just under it was smaller than elsewhere. It had been flanged off at
the top, as if to make a point upon it, and upon this point was placed
the barrel, or rather a portion of the top was inserted into the end of
the barrel.
I remembered this narrow part. It formed a sort of ring or collar round
the post. Was it likely that the protuberance would be large enough to
make a hold for my jacket, and prevent it from slipping back? Likely or
not, it was not the time to be nice about the choice of expedients.
There was no choice: this or nothing.
Before another sea could reach me, I had "swarmed" up the pole. I tried
the experiment. It would not do. I came sliding down again, sadder
than I had gone up; and as soon as down, I was treated to "another
sorrow of the same"--a fresh sea that ducked and drowned me as before.
The cause of my failure was that I could not get the collar of my jacket
high enough. My head was in the way.
Up the pole again with a new thought. A fresh hope had arisen in my
mind, as soon as I rose out of the waves; and this hope was that I might
fasten something around the top, and to this something fasten myself.
But what was the something to be? I had also thought of that; and you
shall hear what it was. I chanced to have upon my shoulders a pair of
braces, and fortunately they were good ones--no pedlar's stuff, but
stout braces of buckskin leather. This was the something by which I
intended to hang myself up.
I lost no time in trying. I had no desire to stay longer below than I
could help, and I soon "speeled" up again. The jacket served a good
purpose. It helped to stay me on the staff; and by pressing my back
outward, and holding well with my feet, I could remain a good while
without getting tired.
Placing myself in this attitude, I unloosed my braces. I acted with
caution, notwithstanding my disagreeable plight. I took care not to
drop them while knotting the two together; and I also took care to make
the knot a firm one, as well as to waste only a very little of the
precious length of the buckskin. I should need every inch of it.
Having got them both into one piece, I made a loop at the end, taking
care that the post should be _inside_ the loop. This done, I pushed the
loop up till it was above the shoulder of the staff--right "chuck" up to
the barrel--and then I drew it tight and close. It remained only to
pass the other end through my buttoned jacket, and knot it round the
cloth. This I managed after a little, and then lying back, tried it
with my whole weight. I even let go with my feet, and hung suspended
for a moment or two; and had any pilot just then have seen me through
his night-glass, he could have had but one belief--that suicide or some
terrible crime had been committed.
Over-wearied, half-drowned was I, and I will not say whether or not I
laughed at the odd attitude in which I had placed myself; but I could
have laughed, for from that moment I knew no further fear. I felt that
I was delivered from death, as certainly as if I had seen Harry Blew and
his boat rowing within ten yards of me. The storm might rage, rain
fall, and wind blow; spray might pitch over and around me; but I was
satisfied that I should be able to keep my position in spite of all.
True, it was far from being as comfortable as I might have wished it;
but now that the peril was past I began to consider how I could improve
it. My feet gave me the most trouble. Every now and then my legs
exhibited a tendency to get tired and let go their hold, and then I
dropped back to my _hanging_ attitude again.
This was unpleasant and somewhat dangerous, but I did not allow it to
vex me long. There was a cure for this, like everything else, and I
soon discovered it. I split up the legs of my pantaloons quite to the
knees--as good luck would have it they were corduroy like the jacket--
and then taking the two long pieces that hung down, I gave them a twist
or two, passed them round the post, and knotted them together on the
opposite side. This furnished a rest for the lower half of my body; and
thus, half sitting, half hanging, I passed the remainder of the night.
When I tell you that I saw the tide go out, and leave the rocks bare,
you will think I surely released myself from my perch, and got down upon
the reef. But I did nothing of the kind. I had no idea of trusting
myself on those rocks again if I could help it.
I was not comfortable where I was, but still I could endure it for a
while longer; and I feared to make any alteration in the premises lest I
might have to use them again. Moreover, I knew that where I was I
should very likely be seen from the shore as soon as the day broke, and
then relief would be sure to be sent to me.
And it was sent, or came without any sending. Scarcely was the red
Aurora above the water-line, when I perceived a boat making towards me
with all speed; and as soon as it drew near, I saw, what I had guessed
long before, that it was Harry Blew himself that was handling the oars.
I shall not tell you how Harry acted when he came up; how he laughed and
shouted, and waved his oar-blade in the air; and then how kindly and
gently he lowered me down, and laid me in his boat; and when I told him
the whole story, and how his boat had gone to the bottom, instead of
being angry with me, he only laughed, and said it was well it had been
no worse; and from that day not a syllable of reproach ever passed his
lips--not a word about the lost dinghy.