148 THE WHALEMAN'S ADVENTURES. 



while at the same time the people on deck 

 were lowering a spare boat, which is always 

 kept for such emergencies. I could be of no 

 service, except to urge their expedition by 

 many calls, for it was only the work of a few 

 minutes. 



The good Sandwich Islander struck out most 

 bravely at first, but, finding that he was some 

 distance from the ship, and being unable to see 

 Berry on account of the agitated surface of the 

 sea, actually turned back through fear find- 

 ing, as he said, that the " sea caps" went over 

 his head. The men in the boat now plied their 

 oars with all their strength, and were making 

 rapidly towards the drowning young man, who 

 now and then disappeared entirely from view 

 under the seas, which were beginning to roll. 

 A sickening anxiety pervaded me, as my 

 thoughts seemed to press the boat onward to 

 the spot where the poor fellow still grappled, 

 but convulsively, with the yielding waters. 



The boat urged by man's utmost strength, 

 sprang over the boisterous waves with consid- 

 erable speed, but they arrived half a minute 



