Here was a new and a most serious state of things!  I knew that my mate would do all that man could perform, situated as he was, but what man could swim against such a sea, even the short distance that interposed between the, spars and the ship?  The point of the wreck nearest the vessel, was the end of the top-sail-yard, to which the brace led, and this was raised from the water by the strain (the other end of the brace leading aloft), fathoms at a time, rendering it extremely difficult for Marble to reach the rope, by means of which I could now see, notwithstanding all the difficulties, he hoped to regain the vessel.  The voice could be heard by one directly to leeward, the howling of the winds and the roar of the waters having materially lessened within the last few hours.  I shouted to Marble, therefore, my intentions—­

“Stand by to get the brace as I ease it off, in-board,” I cried; “then you will be safe!”

The mate understood me, giving a gesture of assent with his arm.  When both were ready, I eased off the rope suddenly, and Marble, partly by crawling, and partly by floating and dragging himself by the hands, actually got to the yard-arm, which was immediately raised from the water, however, by the drift made by the spars, while he was achieving his object.  I trembled as I saw this stout seaman, the water dripping from his clothes, thus elevated in the air, with the angry billows rolling beneath him, like lions leaping upward to catch the adventurer in their grasp.  Marble’s hand was actually extended to reach the brace, when its block gave way with the strain.  The eye of the strap slipping from the yard, down went the spar into the water.  Next the trough of the sea hid everything from my sight, and I was left in the most painful doubt of the result, when I perceived the mate lashing himself to the top, as the portion of the wreck that floated the most buoyantly.  He had managed to get in again, and coolly went to work to secure himself in the best berth he could find, the instant he regained the main mass of the wreck.  As he rose on the crest of a sea, the poor fellow made a gesture of adieu to me; the leave-taking of the mariner!

In this manner did it please Divine Providence to separate us four, who had already gone through so much in company!  With what moody melancholy did I watch the wreck, as it slowly drifted from the ship.  I no longer thought of making further efforts to save the Dawn, and I can truly say, that scarce a thought in connection with my own life, crossed my mind.  There I stood for quite an hour, leaning against the foot of the mizen-mast, with folded arms and riveted eyes, regardless of the pitches, and lurches, and rolling of the ship, with all my faculties and thoughts fastened on the form of Marble, expecting each time that the top rose to view to find it empty.  He was too securely lashed, however, to strike adrift, though he was nearly half the time under water.  It was impossible to do anything to save him.