"Hold on, hold on, my lads, for your lives!" cried the coxswain; and a tremendous sea broke bodily over her, threatening to sweep every man on board away.  I held on, as may be supposed, like grim death.  The men, slipping from their seats, placed their breasts on the thwart, thrust their legs under them, and clasped them with both their arms, while the water rushed over their backs and heads, so completely burying us that I fully believed the boat was going down; indeed, it seemed as if we were gone.  Suddenly regaining its buoyancy, up it sprang again, throwing out most of the water through the side, while the rest sank to the bottom of the boat, and once more she floated bravely.