The Mate of the Lily | Page 6

and bracing up the yards and backing the main
topsail, so that there was no time to see what had become of the first
mate and boy, but the captain had his eye upon them. It was sharp work,
for we knew the lives of our fellow-creatures depended upon our
exertions. I wished that I had possessed the strength of two men. As
soon as the brig was hove to, I took one glance to windward. I thought I
saw Uncle Jack and the boy, but I also saw what filled me with alarm, a
huge albatross flying above, apparently about to swoop down upon
them. It was but a glance, for I sprang over to the other side to jump
into the boat, eager to be among those going to save them. The second
mate was already in the boat, three other hands following. As soon as
we got under the stern of the brig, we saw the captain standing aft,
pointing in the direction we were to steer. The second mate, I thought,
appeared very cool.
"Give way, lads," he shouted. "We shall be up to them before that bird
strikes either of them on the head, for it seems that is what he is trying
to do."
A long rolling sea was running, and only when we were at the top of a
wave were those ahead of us visible to the mate, who stood up every
now and then the better to watch them.
"There's that bird making another swoop!" he exclaimed, and soon
afterwards he cried out, "He has risen again. Give way, lads! He may
not have struck both."
I did give way as may be supposed. If one had been struck, might it not
have been Uncle Jack!
"He has hold of the grating at last!" cried the mate. "I see him waving
his hand. There comes the bird again!"
Once more my heart sank within me. I could not turn round to look, or

I might have missed my stroke. The boat seemed to be making but
fearfully slow progress as I watched the brig rising to the seas, and as
she pitched into them, throwing the spray over her bows. There stood
the captain pointing with his hand, as if to encourage us to persevere.
On and on we pulled, I expecting every moment to hear the mate
exclaim that the albatross had made a fatal swoop. At last I heard a
voice, though a very weak one, cry, "Take the boy in first."
I knew it was that of Uncle Jack; I saw him lift little Jem up while he
held on to the gunwale. The two men in the bow then hauled him in,
and next the grating on which he had supported himself.
Uncle Jack sank down utterly exhausted. We passed the boy aft. He
seemed to be dead. We then dragged the first mate into the stern-sheets,
but could not attend to him, for we were compelled to keep our oars
going to get the boat round as soon as possible. Uncle Jack lay without
moving. I saw that one of his shoes was off. He presently came to. His
first thought was for the boy, whose hands and chest he began to chafe
as well as his weakness would allow.
The second mate, I thought, might have spared a hand to help him, but
he looked on, it seemed to me, with indifference, jealous that the first
mate should have behaved so gallantly, or--although I tried to put the
thought from me--angry that he had escaped. We pulled away until
rounding the stern of the brig, we got alongside, when a cheer burst
from the crew as they saw that we had the first mate and little Jem safe.
Eager hands stood by to lift them or board, for even Uncle Jack was
still too weak to help himself. While the boat was being hoisted up the
captain directed Mr Blyth and me to carry the boy into his own cabin,
he and two of the men following with the first mate, who was placed in
his own berth. We, in the meantime, had got the boy's clothes off him
and had wrapped him up in a dry blanket, while we kept chafing his
chest, arms, and feet until he breathed freely. He soon returned to
consciousness, and looking about him was much surprised to find
where he was.
"Where's Mr Radburn? Oh, sir, have you got him safe?" was his first
question.

He is all right, my lad.
"It's that bird, sir; it's that bird, sir! Oh, save me from it!" he continued
crying out.
"The bird won't hurt you, and Mr Radburn is safe in his cabin, I hope,"
answered Mr Blyth, in a kind voice.