"TOO LATE!" 407 



and directly the ship brought up, a Sandwich Islander, 

 who formed one of the crew, leaped overboard, and swam 

 toward him, while at the same time the people on deck 

 were lowering a spare boat, which is always kept for 

 such emergencies." 



The Polynesian struck out bravely at first, but when 

 he was at some distance from the ship, being unable to 

 see the man of whom he was in search, he was suddenly 

 seized with an appalling sense of loneliness, and in his 

 terror returned to the boat. The men again plied their 

 oars, and the boat swept with tremendous speed through 

 the rolling waves ; but, unfortunately, was half a minute 

 too late to save the unfortunate castaway. To the last he 

 struggled against his fate ; but the foam of a broken sea 

 roared over his head, and he disappeared for ever. The 

 boat was rowed * round and round the fatal spot, in the 

 hope he might rise again to the surface, but in vain ; 

 and when night closed over the scene, her sorrowing 

 crew pulled back sadly and slowly to the ship. 



The moment the ill-fated seaman sank, a large bird of 

 the albatross kind came along on labouring pinions, and 

 alighted on the water at the very spot where he was List 

 seen. It was almost as if he had scented a victim from 

 afar ; however, he w^as too late. 



It was quite dark by the time the boat was got on 

 board, and the wind blew in heavy squalls. A general 

 feeling of depression spread through the crew, for they 

 had lost one of their best men. Moreover, the captain, 

 the second mate, and ten experienced seamen were miss- 

 ing ; and who could say whether they would ever be seen 

 again'? The gloomy weather seemed to answer to and 

 sympathize with the sombre thoughts that overshadowed 



