The voyage passed without incident save that, when rounding the
southern point of Ceylon, a sudden squall from the land struck them.
The vessel heeled over suddenly, and a young soldier, who was sitting
on the bulwarks to leeward, was jerked backwards and fell into the
water.
Charlie Marryat was on the quarterdeck, leaning against the rail,
watching a shoal of flying fish passing at a short distance. In the
noise and confusion, caused by the sudden squall, the creaking of
cordage, the flapping of sails, and the shouts of the officer to let
go the sheets, the fall of the soldier was unnoticed; and Charlie was
startled by perceiving, in the water below him, the figure of a
struggling man.
He saw, at once, that he was unable to swim. Without an instant's
hesitation Charlie threw off his coat, and kicked off his shoes, and
with a loud shout of "Man overboard!" sprang from the taffrail and,
with a few vigorous strokes, was alongside the drowning man. He seized
him by the collar, and held him at a distance.
"Now," he said, "don't struggle, else I'll let you go. Keep quiet, and
I can hold you up till we're picked up."
In spite of the injunction, the man strove to grasp him; but Charlie
at once let go his hold, and swam a pace back as the man sunk.
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