We had hardly lost sight of the slaver before one of our own crew had nearly committed suicide.

The steward, a young mulatto, had contracted the bad habit of indulging too much in liquor.

The captain had often threatened to punish him severely, but all to no purpose; and this morning he was so intoxicated that the sailors were obliged to lay him in a corner of the forecastle, where he might sleep himself sober.

Suddenly, however, he leapt up, clambered on to the forepart of the ship, and threw himself into the sea.

Luckily, it was almost a calm, the water was quite still, and we had hopes of saving him.