“Who was the captain of this vessel?” said the first lieutenant.
“I was, Sir,” replied Toplift; “but much against my will.”
“Oh, of course; every man was on board of her against his will. What is your name? Put him down, Mr. Pearson. Any other officers alive?”
“No, Sir,” replied Toplift.
The name of every man was then asked and put down, and it so happened that I was the last; for, anxious to see my brother, I had walked up the foremost, and they had commenced their interrogation at the other end of the line.
“What is your name?”
“I do not belong to the schooner,” replied I.
“Of course not; you dropped on board her from the clouds.”
“No, Sir, I did not; I swam on board of her to save my life.”
“Then you went out of the frying-pan into the fire, I reckon, my good fellow, for your life is forfeited now.”