fellows, as I looked back, lashed to the
rigging, holding up their hands in dumb show, imploring us not to desert
them. Neither the coxswain nor his crew were men to do that; but
already the boat was crowded, and should the sea break on board, some of
those saved might be washed out of her. Sea after sea rolled in on the
wreck; every moment I expected to see the masts go, with the helpless
men clinging to the shrouds, when all must be lost.

"Pay out, pay out, my lads!" exclaimed the coxswain, just as a huge sea
was breaking astern of us, and three or four smaller ones of less
consequence were approaching.

Again the boat got close up to the wreck. Two more men sprang into her.
Another made the attempt, but his foot slipped, or he let go his hold
of the rope too soon, and, falling between the boat and the vessel's
side, disappeared. One shriek only escaped him; it reached the ears of
the two poor boys, who seemed paralysed with fear and unable to help
themselves.

The coxswain shouted to them to let go, and spring towards him. One did
as directed, and was caught by the strong arm of one of the crew. The
other appeared to be entangled in the rigging. The brave man who had
saved the other lad, seeing that the boy would be lost, regardless of
the danger he himself was incurring, sprang on board, cutting the
lashings with his knife, which he then threw from him. He seized the
boy round the waist. At that instant I heard the cry, "Haul off, haul
off!"

"Hold fast for a moment!" shouted the gallant man who had gone to rescue
the boy.

By the delay of that moment the lives of all of us were fearfully
imperilled. The man sprang with the rescued boy on board; but scarcely
had his feet touched the boat when the sea which had just before been
observed surrounded her and carried her right up high above the deck of
the wreck. The crew forward were hauling away with all their might,
although the bow of the boat was pointed downwards, and must, I thought,
be dragged under water. Every instant I expected to hear the fatal
crash. Had our mizenmast been caught in any of the rigging, our
destruction would have been certain; but ere the boat actually struck
the wreck she was hauled off; and now the crew, labouring with all their
strength, drew her up to her anchor. To weigh the anchor with the sea
that was running was impossible. Should the boat drift down on the
wreck before sail could be made she must be dashed to pi