"What is the matter?" asked the commander in a kind tone.
"I had a man on board who had been with me ever since I went to sea," I
answered. "We had been through dangers of all sorts together, and he
would have given his life to save mine."
"Very sorry, very sorry to hear it," he said in a kind tone. "Come into
my cabin; I'll give you a shake-down, and you must try to go to sleep
till the morning."
I gladly accepted his offer. The steward soon made up a bed for me; but
after the dreadful event of the night, I found it more difficult than I
had ever done before to close my eyes. I kept thinking of poor Larry,
and considering if I could have done anything to save him. I blamed
myself for turning in, when I saw the half-drunken condition of the
skipper. His crew probably were in the same state, and had neglected to
keep a look-out. I at last, however, went to sleep, and didn't awake
till the steward called me, to say that breakfast would be on the table
presently.
I jumped up, and, having had a wash, went on deck. The officers of the
brig received me very kindly, and congratulated me on my escape.
Presently a master's mate came from below, and looked hard at me for a
moment, and then, stretching out his hand, exclaimed, "Why, Paddy, my
boy! is it yourself? I'm delighted to see you."