The bow-man made a spring out with his boat-hook, threw it back, went up to his wife, and commenced talking with her, while I watched him.

"If you please, sir, there's my young woman come down, mayn't I speak to her ?" said another of the men.

I turned round, and refused him.

He expostulated, and begged very hard, but I was resolute; however, when I again turned my eyes to watch the bow-man, he and his wife were gone.

"There," says I to the coxswain, "I knew it would be so; you see Hickman is off." "Only gone to take a parting glass, sir," replied the coxswain; "he'll be here directly." "I hope so; but I'm afraid not." After this, I refused all the solicitations of the men to be allowed to leave the boat, but I permitted them to have some beer brought down to them.