I acknowledge that I slept little that night.  Two or three limes we detected Sennit attempting to haul close up under the ship’s stern, out of all question with a view to surprise us, but as often would he drop to the length of his tow-rope, us he saw Marble’s head, or mine, watching him above the taffrail.  When the day dawned I was called, and was up and on the look-out as our horizon enlarged and brightened round the ship.  The great object was to ascertain, as early as possible, what vessels might be in our neighbourhood.

But a solitary sail was visible.  She appeared to be a ship of size, close-hauled, heading to the southward and eastward:  by steering on our proper course, or certainly by diverging a little to the northward, it would be an easy matter to speak her.  As I could plainly see she was not a ship of war, my plan was formed in a moment.  On communicating it to Marble, it met with his entire approbation.  Measures were taken, accordingly, to carry it into immediate execution.

In the first place, I ordered Sennit, who was awake, and had been, I believe, the whole night, to haul the boat up and to lay hold of one of the boat-tackles.  This he did willingly enough, no doubt expecting that he was to be received into the ship, under a treaty.  I stood on the look-out to prevent an attack, one man being abundantly able to keep at bay a dozen who could approach only by ascending a rope hand over hand, while Marble went below to look after the two worthies who had been snoring all night in the cabin.  In a minute my mate reappeared, leading up the seaman, who was still more asleep than awake.  This man was directed to lay hold of the tackle and slide down into the boat.  There being no remedy, and descending being far easier than ascending, this exploit was soon performed, and we were well rid of one of our enemies.  Sennit now began to remonstrate, and to point out the danger there was of being towed under, the ship going through the water the whole time at the rate of five or six knots.  I knew, however, that the English were too skilful to run the risk of being drowned, unnecessarily, and that they would let go of the tackle before they would suffer the boat to be swamped.  It was ticklish work, I allow; but they succeeded surprisingly well in taking care of themselves.

We had more difficulty with Diggens.  This fellow had been so beastly drunk, that he scarce knew what he was about when awoke; and Marble rather dragged him on deck, and aft to the taffrail, than assisted him to walk.  There we got him at last; and he was soon dangling by the tackle.  So stupid and enervated was the master’s mate, however, that he let go his hold, and went into the ocean.  The souse did him good, I make no doubt; and his life was saved by his friends, one of the sailors catching him by the collar, and raising him into the boat.

Sennit availed himself of this accident, to make further remonstrances on the subject of having any more men put in the boat.  It was easy to see, it was as much his policy to get everybody out of that little conveyance, as it was mine to get all the English into her.