A MAN OVERBOARD. 179

was nothing much to do, the crew half lay or lolled
about on deck, sleepy and exhausted with the heat,
whilst a few endeavoured to pierce the haze with
their keen eyes and see if any other vessel could be
nearing them. At intervals the fog bell was rung,
and even its tinkling seemed dulled by the thickness
of the haze. The chief mate first sent a sailor aloft
to look out and report if he saw anything near: on
his returning, and telling him it was impossible to
see more than a couple of yards through the haze,
he swore at the man, and then climbed up himself.
 He remained up for some time, no one being aware
of his movements but Jack, who stood beneath, but
could only see him dimly.
 Suddenly, as he was gazing up, he seemed to Jack
to waver, and in another second he fell from aloft,
struck the rigging a couple of times in his descent,
which fortunately threw him off towards the sea,
(for had he fallen on deck, death would have been
instant and horrible), and with a heavy plunge, was
dashed into the water.
 Jack, horrified, gave one wild cry of "Man over-
board," but without a moment's hesitation, leaped on
to the side of the vessel, and sprang with all his force
in the direction in which the mate had disappeared.
 His wild, strong leap sank him to a good distance
under the water, but as he felt himself coming up to