life-boats, were taken on board the cutter. It now contained thirty-seven persons, including the captain, first officer, doctor, steward, purser, several able-bodied seamen, and all the passengers; while the two life-boats had thirty-one of the crew. The boats drifted about all day, there being no wind, and the burning ship was still in sight. On the third day the life-boats were not to be seen; each had a box of gold on board by way of ballast.

A light breeze having sprung up, sail was made on the cutter, the captain intending to run for the Falkland Islands. The sufferings of the passengers increased from day to day; they soon ran short of water, until the day's allowance was reduced to about two table-spoonfuls for each person. It was pitiful to hear the little children calling for more, but it could not be given them: men, women, and children had to share alike. Provisions failed. The biscuit had been spoiled by the salt water; all that remained in the way of food was preserved meat, which was soon exhausted, after which the only allowance, besides the two table-spoonfuls of water, was a table-spoonful of preserved soup every twenty-four hours. Meanwhile the wind freshened, the sea rose, and the waves came dashing over the passengers, completely drenching them. The poor ladies, thinly clad, looked the pictures of misery.

Thus seven days passed-days of slow agony, such as words can not describe—until at last the joyous words "A sail! a sail" roused the sufferers to new life. A man was sent to the mast-head with a red blanket to hoist by way of signal of distress. The ship saw the signal, and bore down upon the cutter. She proved to be the "Pyrmont," the ship lying within sight of us, and

between which and the "Yorkshire" our boat kept plying for the greater part of the day.

Strange to say, the rescued people suffered more after they had got on board the "Pyrmont" than they had done during their period of starvation and exposure. Few of them could stand or walk when taken on board, all being reduced to the last stage of weakness. Scarcely had they reached the "Pyrmont" ere the third steward died; next day the ship's purser died insane; and two days after, one of the second-cabin passengers died. The others, who recovered, broke out in sores and boils, more particularly on their hands and feet; and when the "Yorkshire" met them, many of the passengers, as well as the crew of the burnt "Blue Jacket," were in a most pitiable plight.

I put off with the third boat which left our ship's side for the "Pyrmont." We were lying nearly becalmed all this time, so that passing between the ships by boat was comparatively easy. We took with us as much fresh water as we could spare, together with provisions and other stores. I carried with me a few I carried with me a few spare books for the use of the "Blue Jacket" passengers.

On reaching the deck of the "Pyrmont," the scene which presented itself was such as I think I shall never forget. The three rescued ladies were on the poop; and ladies you could see they were, in spite of their scanty and disheveled garments. The dress of one of them consisted of a common striped man's shirt, a water-proof cloak made into a skirt, and a pair of coarse canvas slippers, while on her finger glittered a magnificent diamond ring. The other ladies were no better dressed, and none of them had any covering for the head. Their

faces bore distinct traces of the sufferings they had undergone. Their eyes were sunken, their cheeks pale, and every now and then a sort of spasmodic twitch seemed to pass over their features. One of them could just stand, but could not walk; the others were comparatively helpless. A gentleman was lying close by the ladies, still suffering grievously in his hands and feet from the effects of his long exposure in the open boat, while one side of his body was completely paralyzed. One poor little boy could not move, and the doctor said he must lose one or two of his toes through mortification. One of the ladies was the wife of the passenger gentleman who had first come on board of our ship. She was a young lady, newly married, who had just set out on her wedding trip. What a terrible beginning of married life! I found she had suffered more than the others through her devotion to her husband. He was, at one time, constantly employed in baling the boat, and would often have given way but for her. She insisted on his taking half her allowance of water, so that he had three table-spoonfuls daily instead of two, whereas she had only one!

While in the boat the women and children were forced to sit huddled up at one end of it, covered with a blanket, the seas constantly breaking over them and soaking through every thing. They had to sit upright, and in very cramped postures, for fear of capsizing the boat; and the little sleep they got could only be snatched sitting. Yet they bore their privations with great courage and patience, and while the men were complaining and swearing, the women and children never uttered a complaint.

I had a long talk with the ladies, whom I found very resigned and most grateful for their deliverance. I presented my books, which were thankfully received; and the newly-married lady, forgetful of her miseries, talked pleasantly and intelligently about current topics and home news. It did seem strange for me to be sitting on the deck of the "Pyrmont," in the middle of the Atlan tic, talking with these shipwrecked ladies about the last new novel!

At last we took our leave, laden with thanks, and returned on board our ship. It was now growing dusk. We had done all that we could for the help of the poor sufferers on board the "Pyrmont," and, a light breeze springing up, all sail was set, and we resumed our voyage south.

Two of the gold-diggers, who had been second-class passengers by the "Blue Jacket," came on board our ship with the object of returning with us to Melbourne, and it is from their recital that I have collated the above account of the disaster.

CHAPTER V.

IN THE SOUTH ATLANTIC.

Preparing for Rough Weather.—The “George Thompson" Clipper.-A Race at Sea.-Scene from "Pickwick" acted.-Fishing for Albatross. Dissection and Division of the Bird.—Whales.—Strong Gale.—Smash in the Cabin.-Shipping a Green Sea.-The Sea-birds in our Wake.— The Crozet Islands.

11th April.-We are now past the pleasantest part of our voyage, and expect to encounter much rougher seas. Every thing is accordingly prepared for heavy weather. The best and newest sails are bent; the old and worn ones are sent below. We may have to encounter storms or even cyclones in the Southern Ocean, and our captain is now ready for any wind that may blow. For some days we have had a very heavy swell coming up from the south, as if there were strong winds blowing in that quarter. We have, indeed, already had a taste of dirty weather to-day-hard rain, with a stiffish breeze; but as the ship is still going with the wind and sea, we do not as yet feel much inconvenience.

A few days since we spoke a vessel that we had been gradually coming up to for some time, and she proved to be the "George Thompson," a splendid Aberdeenbuilt clipper, one of the fastest ships out of London. No sooner was this known than it became a matter of great interest as to whether we could overhaul the clipper. Our ship, because of the height and strength of her spars, enables us to carry much more sail, and we are probably