“I thank you, sir,” replied the first lieutenant, seriously; “you will excuse me:  it is time to beat to quarters.”

“Well, then, do so; I had no idea it was so late.  Mr Forster, you don’t pass the bottle.”

“I have taken enough, I thank you, sir.”

The officers present also made the same statement.

“Well, then, if you won’t, gentlemen—­steward, let’s have some coffee.”

The coffee appeared and disappeared; and the officers made their bows and quitted the cabin as the first lieutenant entered it to report the muster at quarters.

“All present and sober, sir.  I am afraid, sir,” continued he, “the masts will be over the side if we do not clew up the royals.”

“Stop a moment, if you please, Mr Nourse, until I go up and judge for myself,” replied the captain, who was inclined to be pertinacious.

Captain Carrington went on deck.  The men were still ranged round the decks at their quarters; more than one pair of eyes were raised aloft to watch the masts, which were bending like coach-whips, and complaining bitterly.

“Shall we beat a retreat, and pipe hands to shorten sail, sir?  We had better take in the third reefs, sir;—­it looks very squally to-night,” observed the first lieutenant.

“Really, Mr Nourse, I don’t exactly perceive the necessity—­”

But at that moment the fore and main-top-gallant-masts went over the side; and the look-out man at the fore-top-gallant-mast head, who had been called down by the first lieutenant, but did not hear the injunction, was hurled into the sea to leeward.

“Helm down!” cried the master.

“Man overboard!—­man overboard!” echoed round the decks; while some of the officers and men jumped into the quarter-boats, and hastily cast off the gripes and lashings.

Captain Carrington, who was immediately sobered by the catastrophe, which he felt had been occasioned by his own wilfulness, ran aft to the taffrail; and when he saw the poor sailor struggling in the waves, impelled by his really fine nature, he darted overboard to save him; but he was not by any means a powerful swimmer, and, encumbered with his apparel, it was soon evident that he could do no more than keep himself afloat.

Newton, who perceived how matters stood, with great presence of mind caught up two of the oars from the boat hanging astern, and darted over to the assistance of both.  One oar he first carried to the seaman, who was exhausted and sinking.  Placing it under his arms, he then swam with the other to Captain Carrington, who could not have remained above water but a few seconds more without the timely relief.  He then quietly swam by the side of Captain Carrington, without any attempt at extra exertion.

The boat was soon lowered down, and in a few minutes they were all three again on board, and in safety.  Captain Carrington thanked Newton for his assistance, and acknowledged his error to the first lieutenant.  The officers and men looked upon Newton with respect and increased good-will; and the sailors declared that the captain was a prime little fellow, although he hadn’t had an “edication.”