go in this boat," he exclaimed. The sergeant's
wife hesitated, casting a glance towards her husband.

"We want you to go and look after the ladies," said the colonel. "Come,
Mrs Rumbelow, you have never acted contrary to orders, and you will not
do so now, I am sure."

Without a word she stepped to the gangway, and with very little
assistance reached the boat. A young drummer, with five or six poor
women, some having children, were also lowered down.

"Come, Davis, I promised the colonel that you and your medicine chest
should go in the launch," said the commander. "I hope you will be able
to give a good account of your charges. Come! come! I must be obeyed,"
he added with a melancholy smile, observing that the surgeon seemed to
hesitate. "We can do without your services on board."

Eight hands had been ordered into the boat to serve as her crew, and
Willy was very glad to see Paul Lizard among them. The boatswain had
been ordered to take charge of the first cutter. Peter Patch went with
him, and poor Ensign Holt was lowered into the same boat, looking more
helpless and woebegone than any of the women.

The people, however, had not been placed in the boats without
considerable difficulty and danger. As soon as the launch had received
her complement, she was dropped astern. Here she hung on while the
other boats were being loaded, and as those in her watched this
proceeding, they dreaded every instant to see them swamped alongside.
Some of the people attempted, in their eagerness, to jump in. Several
were seen to fall into the water; others were with difficulty caught,
and saved from breaking their limbs. The sea, too, which, while the
launch was alongside, was comparatively calm, had since then rapidly
become more and more agitated, and heavy rollers were seen coming over
the ocean towards the ship. As the people were getting into the second
cutter, the sea struck her, violently dashing her against the ship's
side; while some were attempting to fend her off, she was swamped and
upset, the unhappy people in her being cast struggling into the foaming
waters. Two seamen only managed to regain the ship.

"Out oars," cried Harry Shafto; and the crew of the launch attempted to
pull up, and save some of their drowning shipmates. Before, however,
they could get up even to the ship's quarter, nearly all had
disappeared, several poor women and children being speedily overwhelmed.

"See! see!" cried Mrs Rumb