The Missing Ship | Page 4

mate, who
was generally on such occasions relieved by the boatswain; but Tim
came back to say that Mr Massey could not quit the deck till the gale
moderated. Gerald, having despatched his supper, quickly joined him.
"What do you think of the weather, Mr Massey?" he asked.
"That it is blowing big guns and small-arms," answered the mate,
laughing. "Not that that much matters as long as it holds steadily in its
present quarter; but I'm on the look-out lest it should change, and if it
does, it will not give warning of its intention. It would be an ugly thing
to be taken aback with this sea on, and it is that we must be prepared
for."
The waves had indeed, since Gerald had been below, greatly increased,
and were now rising far above the bulwarks, and as they curled over
threatened to come down on the deck and overwhelm the good ship.
"Keep a tight hold of a stanchion or the mizen-mast, Gerald," said the
mate; "if one of those seas breaks on board, you might be carried away
in a moment. See, the men know what may possibly happen, and are
doing as I advise you--though, if I had my will, you should remain
below."
"My father and Norah would be ashamed of me if I did," answered
Gerald; "depend on it, I will take good care to hold on with tooth and
nail if we get so unwelcome a visitor."
Onward flew the ship; already the gloom of night had begun to steal
over the waste of waters, when the look-out forward shouted, "A lump
of timber or a boat capsized right ahead a point on the starboard bow!"
Immediately afterwards he added, "It's a raft, sir, with a man on it; he's

waving to us!"
The mate sprang into the mizen rigging, and having glanced at the
position of the raft, of which he caught sight as it rose to the summit of
a sea, he exclaimed, "We must save the poor fellow's life--port the
helm half a point. Steady now. Get ropes ready to heave to him," he
next shouted out; and, securing one round his own waist, he leaped into
the fore-chains.
The ship flew on, but he had rightly calculated the position of the raft.
There was a fearful risk, however, that she might run over it, or that the
force of the sea might dash it against her side and crush its occupant.
But no time was allowed for considering the risk to be run. Owen saw
that the man had disengaged himself from the ropes by which he had
been secured to the raft, and was holding on to one of them alone. He
must have well known his terrible danger, for a sea might in a moment
wash him away, in spite of his holdfast. The mate stood ready with
another rope in hand to heave to him. The next instant the raft was
driven against the side of the vessel, and the man lost his hold.
Prompted by a generous instinct, Owen, at the great risk of his own life,
sprang on to the raft, and, grasping him round the waist, put the rope
into his hand, while he held him fast. The crew were in readiness, in the
rigging or leaning over the bulwarks, and before another moment had
passed both Owen and the stranger were drawn up and stood in safety
in the main-chains, whence eager hands hauled them on board.
"You have rendered me a good turn, and I hope to live long enough to
repay it," said the rescued man, as soon as he had sufficiently recovered
his breath to speak; for he had been pretty nearly exhausted by the
efforts he had made to hold on to the raft, and the sudden jerk he had
received in being hauled on board.
He was evidently a seaman, for a seaman and a strong and determined
man alone could have exerted himself as he had done to preserve his
life. By his dress and manner, also, he appeared to be an officer. The
physical suffering and mental anxiety he must have gone through had
naturally so much exhausted him that, though able to stand, he was
compelled to hold fast to the bulwarks to support himself. From his

appearance, however, he looked like a man capable of enduring as
much as most persons; he was strongly built, rather above the middle
height, with a countenance which if not handsome was good-looking,
and betokened courage and resolution.
"I am glad that I was fortunate enough to get hold of you, and to help
you on board--though, as I should have tried to do the same for any
human being placed in the situation in which you were,