CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
IN DIRE PERIL.
Jake's voice seemed ever so far away in the distance, and there was a confused sort of humming, buzzing noise in my ears; while some heavy weight on the top of my head appeared to be pressing me down, although I struggled frantically to free myself.
It was all in vain, though.
I was whirled round and round in an eddy of the sea; and soon my efforts ceased.
Then, all at once, when almost the sense of suffocation had passed, I felt a hand grasp my collar at the back of my neck; and, oh, gracious heaven! I was dragged above the surface and drew once more a breath of air.

I took in a gulp of water with this; but, in spite of the water, the air was the sweet essence of life and I breathed again! I had been in a dream before--a terrible dream; now I came to myself, and my recollection returned.
The buzzing sounds that had previously echoed through my brain resolved themselves into the hoarse shouts of the crew of the _Josephine_; the exclamations of the sailors being mingled with the roaring, crashing break of the waves as they washed over the wreck, and the creaking and rending of the timbers of the poor ship, while, nearer yet to me, I could distinguish the cheering cry of faithful Jake: "Hole up, Mass' Tom, um got um safe now.

Hole up an' take good breff; we'se all right, an' ebberybody safe!" At the same moment that he spoke Jake lifted me up on something which I could feel with my feet, and I opened my eyes.
At first, I was almost blinded by the sea-water which had got into them, and the salt spray which continually dashed over my head; but, in a minute or two, I was able to see where I was and grasp the situation.
The ship was lying over on her starboard side, with her decks submerged up to the hatches, and her masts horizontal on the surface of the sea; but, the whole of her port side was clear out of the water, and, although the waves were breaking over this, still the major part of the quarter and a portion of the poop were almost high and dry in the intervals between the following rollers that ever and anon swept up to their level.
On this after part of the ship, Jake had managed to clamber up, lugging me along with him; and, as I looked round, I could recognise Captain Miles and Mr Marline, as well as several others of the hands, who had sought such a vantage-ground of safety.
Away forwards, the _Josephine_ was completely buried in the huge billows that were constantly surging over her; but here, too, clinging on to the main-chains was another group of sailors, amongst whom I could make out the tall figure of Jackson, with Cuffee and Davis close beside him.
Captain Miles perceived me almost as soon as I saw him.
"Ah, there you are, Tom!" he cried.

"Thank God you are not lost! I made a hard grab at you when the ship heeled over, but missed you; and thought that the skylight hatch carried you away overboard when it lifted." "Me watchee him sharp, sah," explained Jake.

"I'se see de squall comin' an' run aft for tell, an' den I clutch hole Mass' Tom, an' here we is!" "You've saved your young master then," exclaimed the captain; "so, Tom, you've got to thank the darkey instead of me! But, how many of us have escaped ?" As he said this, Captain Miles glanced about and appeared to be reckoning up the list of the crew on his fingers, for I could see his lips move.
"Marline, you're all right, eh ?" he went on presently, speaking out aloud.
"Oh, yes, I'm here, thanks to Providence," said the first mate with almost a sob in his voice.