At the top of the ladder he was stopped by the marine officer, who had witnessed the whole transaction, as he sat across the gangway hammocks, watching the swimmers, and trying to get his own consent to undergo the labour of undressing and dressing.  Said the soldier to the sailor, “That was very well done of you, my man, and right well deserves a glass of grog.  Say so to the gun-room steward as you pass; and tell him it is my orders to fill you out a stiff norwester.”

The soldier’s offer was kindly meant, but rather clumsily timed, at least so thought Jack; for though he inclined his head in acknowledgment of the attention, and instinctively touched his hat, when spoken to by an officer, he made no reply, till out of the marine’s hearing, when he laughed, or rather chuckled out to the people near him, “Does the good gentleman suppose I’ll take a glass of grog for saving a boy’s life?”

It is surely very odd that there should ever be such a thing as a sailor who cannot swim.  And it is still more marvellous that there should be found people who actually maintain that a sailor who cannot swim has a better chance than one who can.

This strange doctrine, as may well be supposed, derives but slender support from any well-established facts.  It is merely asserted that, on some occasions of shipwreck, the boldest swimmers have been lost in trying to reach the shore, when they might have been saved had they stayed by the ship.  This may be true enough in particular cases, and yet the general position grounded upon it utterly absurd.  The most skilful horsemen sometimes break their necks, but this is hardly adduced as an argument against learning to ride.  I suppose there is not an officer in the service, certainly not one who has reached the rank of captain, who has not seen many men drowned solely from not being able to swim; that is, because they had not learned a very simple art, of which, under his official injunctions, and aided by due encouragement, they might readily have acquired a sufficient knowledge.  My own conscience is not quite clear on this score, whatever that of my brother officers may be; and certainly, should I again take the command of a ship, I shall use every exertion, and take advantage of every opportunity, to encourage the men and officers to acquire this invaluable accomplishment.  Would it be unreasonable to refuse the rating of A.B. (able seaman) on the ship’s books to any man who could not swim?  If it be our duty to ascertain that a sailor can “hand, reef, and steer,” before we place against his name these mystical letters, might we not well superadd, as a qualification, that he should also be able to keep his head above water, in the event of falling overboard, or that he should have it in his power to save another’s life, if required to leap into the sea for that purpose by the orders of his superior?  At present, in such an emergency, an officer has to ask amongst a dozen persons, “Which of you can swim?” instead of saying to the one nearest him, “Jump overboard after that man who is sinking!”