CAPTAIN'S NARROW ESCAPE. 119 



the oars were lustily plied to reach the ship. 

 By means of the usual remedies, the resusci- 

 tated captain was, in a few days, in his own 

 words, " as good as new." 



In giving an account of the accident and 

 his singular escape, he said that, as soon as he 

 discovered that the line had caught in the bow 

 of the boat, he stooped to clear it, and attempted 

 to throw it out from the " chock," so that it 

 might run free. In doing this he was caught 

 by a turn round his left wrist, and felt himself 

 dragged overboard. He was perfectly conscious 

 while he was rushing down, down, with un- 

 known force and swiftness ; and it appeared to 

 him that his arm would be torn from his body, 

 so great was the resistance of the water. He 

 was well aware of his perilous condition, and 

 that his only chance of life was to cut the line. 

 But he could not remove his right arm from his 

 side, to which it was pressed by the force of the 

 element through which he was drawn. 



When he first opened his eyes, it appeared 

 as if a stream of fire was passing before them ; 

 but as he descended it grew dark, and he felt a 



