"Don't ye's do it; for sure, you will want it 'fore we get to Bombay."
"Don't you see those men standing upon something, or clinging to whatever
floats them? They are having a close call; but I hope we shall be able to
save them," replied the third officer.
The captain had gone to the pilot-house, from the windows of which the
wreck could be seen very plainly, as its distance from the ship was rapidly
reduced. By this time the entire crew had rushed to the deck, and were
waiting for orders on the forecastle. Mr. Boulong, with his boat's crew,
had gone to the starboard quarter, where the first cutter was swung in on
her davits. The boat pulled six oars, and the cockswain made seven hands.
With these the cutter wad quickly swung out, and the crew took their places
in her, the bowman at the forward tackle, and the cockswain at the after.
It was the same crew with which the first officer had boarded the Blanche
when she was in imminent peril of going down, and he had entire confidence
both in their will and their muscle. He stood on the rail, holding on at
the main shrouds, ready for further orders.
In the pilot-house, with both quartermasters at the wheel, the captain was
still observing with his glass the men in momentary peril of being washed
from their insecure position into the boiling sea. Felix had gone aft with
the first officer, and had assisted in shoving out the first cutter from
the skids inboard, and Louis had come into the pilot-house with Scott.
Pages:
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49