SEAMAN LOST. 149 



too late to save our poor shipmate from his 

 watery grave. I saw him struggle with the 

 waves until the last, when the foam of a broken 

 sea roared over him, and caused him to disap- 

 pear for ever ! The boat was rowed round and 

 round the fatal spot again and again, until 

 night fell, and then she was slowly and reluct- 

 antly pulled to the ship by her melancholy 

 crew. As they returned, the turbulent waves 

 tossed them about as if in sport, making the 

 boat rebound from the beating and dashing 

 waters which flew against her bow. 



The moment the unfortunate seaman dis- 

 appeared, a large bird of the albatross kind came 

 careering along, and alighted on the water at 

 the very spot where the poor fellow was last 

 seen. It was a curious circumstance, and only 

 served to heighten our horror, when we saw the 

 carnivorous bird set itself proudly over the head 

 of our companion ; and which also served to 

 remind us of the number of sharks that we had 

 so frequently seen of late, and of the horrible 

 propensities of which we could not dare to 

 think. 



