d take care that the men are
secure before you haul in," cried Jack. More than another minute
passed; Green, who with two hands to assist him was at the helm,
skilfully brought her alongside. "Now heave," cried Jack, and twenty
ropes or more were hove with a good will on board the sinking vessel.
Most of them were eagerly seized by the almost despairing crew; some
fastened them round their waists, others, grasping them tightly,
attempted to leap on the _Tornado's_ bulwarks. Some succeeded, and were
seized by the hands of those on board; others missed their footing, and,
with shrieks of despair, letting go their hold, dropped into the
intervening space. Many still remained on board; more ropes were hove
to them; of these several were officers. Warned by the fate of those
who had failed to leap on board the _Tornado_, each of them, as he
caught a rope, secured it round his waist; some springing into the main,
others into the mizzen-rigging, thus attaining a greater height. Among
them Jack observed one who wore a naval uniform, though he had as yet
been unable to distinguish his features.

The risk the _Tornado_ was running of falling on board the vessel was
very great, and Jack was about reluctantly to give the order to sheer
off from her, when he saw the remainder of those on deck prepare to make
the desperate leap which would either terminate in their destruction or
place them in comparative safety. Just at that moment, as his eye was
fixed on the naval officer, he recognised Murray.

"I must save him, at all events," was the thought which passed through
his mind. Murray had grasped the rope, which he was fastening round his
waist; he sprang into the main rigging of the ship, and stood waiting
for a favourable opportunity to take the desperate leap. Jack pointed
him out to Higson, who, securing himself in the same manner, sprang up
on to the hammock nettings, and, stretching out his hands, stood ready
to grasp him. In another instant the two vessels must either be
separated or be hurled against each other. Murray stood calmly holding
on to the rigging by one hand, while with keen eye he watched the
movements of the _Tornado_. Now her side rolled away from him, now it
again approached, and seemed to be sinking far lower down than the level
on which he stood. It was the moment for which he had waited; letting
go his hold, he sprang with outstretched arms towards the _Tornado_.
The crew held the rope; hauling