The crafty Italian, however; was not so easily disposed of.
He was perfectly at home in the water, and had, by diving, kept himself concealed from view, his intention being to swim toward the abandoned vessel, which he had seen as soon as he came on deck.
He knew that a long term of imprisonment awaited him, if he was taken to New York, and he deemed any risk, no matter how desperate, preferable to that fate.
This decided him in jumping overboard.
In time, he succeeded in reaching the water-logged ship, which rolled uneasily upon the heaving bosom of the deep.
Climbing up the chains, he got on board and found himself the sole master of a fine vessel.
She was partly laden with timber, which accounted for her keeping afloat, in the disabled condition in which she was.
His first task was to examine her cabins, which were free from water.
In the forecastle he found everything in disorder, as if the vessel had been abandoned in a hurry and without sufficient cause.
Probably the ship was overwhelmed by the fury of the storm in the dead of night, and the crew, seized with a panic, had lowered the boats.