And what was remarkable, after the first ten days, the brig leaked as much in a light breeze and a smooth sea as in rough weather.

It was necessary to keep one pump in action the whole time.

But when the men, wearied by their unremitting exertions, talked of abandoning the vessel to her fate, and taking refuge in the first vessel they might fall in with, the leak seemed suddenly to diminish, until the bottom of the old craft was comparatively tight! All this was inexplicable to me, and the mystery caused much philosophical discussion and sage remark among the ship's company.

As we were in a part of the ocean which abounded in flying fish, it was the general opinion that the stoppage of the leak was caused by the involuntary action of a flying fish! The theory was, that an unfortunate fish, swimming beneath the bottom of the vessel, in the neighborhood of the crevice through which the water rushed, unsuspicious of danger, was suddenly "sucked in," and plugged up the hole until it was drawn through or removed by decomposition! One day the cook, a negro not remarkable for quickness of apprehension or general intelligence, received such an unmerciful beating from the captain that he was unable to attend to his manifold duties, and a portion of them fell to my share.

Among them was the task of drawing off the regular allowance of rum, half a pint to each man, and serving it out to the crew.