"

Another vessel still lay a considerable way out on the port-bow.
"She'll not keep afloat many minutes longer," observed Higson, who had
been watching her, "unless she parts from her anchors, and then it will
only be to get out of the frying-pan into the fire."

"We might reach her, and should she appear likely to go down, we might
get the crew out of her," observed Jack.

"It will be no easy matter, but it may be done," answered Higson.

"We'll try it," cried Jack, giving directions to Green, who was standing
by the men at the helm, to edge the ship off towards the transport. As
they approached her, they saw that they were arriving not a moment too
soon. Already the seas were sweeping over her deck, and it seemed that
each plunge she made would be her last. Jack determined to steer up on
her starboard side; picked hands were stationed in the rigging, and in
every spot whence ropes could be hove on board to assist the crew in
escaping. They could scarcely hope to save all, but some by activity
might avail themselves of the assistance offered them; the chief danger
in the undertaking was that the sides of the vessels might strike each
other, or that the rigging might get foul. To guard against this as
much as possible, the lower and topsail braces were "manned" ready to
"brace round" smartly in the event of her yards fouling those of the
other vessel, and men were stationed with axes and tomahawks to cut the
ropes.

The _Tornado_ stood on till she was nearly astern of the vessel she was
about to assist. The faces of the crew could be seen, as they turned
their eyes towards the coming succour, while they clung on to the
rigging and bulwarks of their ship, ready to seize the ropes hove to
them. The danger to the _Tornado_ was very great; for should the cable
of the vessel ahead give way at that critical moment, she might be
hurled against her bows, when, in all probability, both vessels would go
down together. The _Tornado's_ progress in the teeth of the gale was
very slow, and the fear was that the vessel ahead would go down before
she could reach her. On the other hand, when once she got alongside,
more time would be allowed to the crew to leap on board. At length the
_Tornado's_ bows were up to the transport's quarter, but not till she
was completely alongside, and both vessels should rise and fall on the
same seas, could any attempt be made to rescue the crew.

"Don't heave a rope till I order you; an