It was blowing a fresh breeze; the frigate was going fast through the water. But the one thousand arms of five hundred men soon tossed her about on the other tack, and checked her further headway.
“Do you see him?” shouted the officer of the watch through his trumpet, hailing the main-mast-head. “Man or buoy, do you see either?”
“See nothing, sir,” was the reply.
“Clear away the cutters!” was the next order. “Bugler! call away the second, third, and fourth cutters’ crews. Hands by the tackles!”
In less than three minutes the three boats were down; More hands were wanted in one of them, and, among others, I jumped in to make up the deficiency.
“Now, men, give way! and each man look out along his oar, and look sharp!” cried the officer of our boat. For a time, in perfect silence, we slid up and down the great seething swells of the sea, but saw nothing.
“There, it’s no use,” cried the officer; “he’s gone, whoever he is. Pull away, men—pull away! they’ll be recalling us soon.”
“Let him drown!” cried the strokesman; “he’s spoiled my watch below for me.”
“Who the devil is he?” cried another.
“He’s one who’ll never have a coffin!” replied a third.