once, with the help of a couple of the hands who jumped to his
side to assist him the moment he spoke, casting off the lashings of the
davits so as to rig them outwards, letting go at the same time the hooks
of the fall blocks and overhauling the running gear. "Why, sir, we
haven't even the dinghy left intact after that clean sweep we had from
the wave that pooped us!"

"Oh, aye, I know that well enough," said the skipper drily. "But, look
alive now, Fosset, with that tackle, and don't be a month of Sundays
over the job! Send down two of the cutter's crew to overrun the falls
and drop down into the boat. They can help Haldane in holding up that
poor chap astern and also bear a hand in hoisting up."

"All right, sir; we're just ready," shouted back the first mate as he
gave the word to let go. "Lower away there with the slack of those
falls. Easy, my man, gently does it!"

In another instant down came the fall blocks, with one of the hands
hanging on to each, the men alighting "gingerly" on the thwarts of the
boat in the bow and stern of the little craft, which became immersed
almost up to the gunwales with the additional weight.

This was only for a moment, for the next minute Mr Fosset gave the
signal to "hoist away," the falls having been hooked on beneath the
thwarts in a jiffey, and up we all went in mid air, "between the devil
and the deep sea," as we say afloat sometimes!

"Bravo!" cried the skipper when we reached the level of the gangway and
were all able to step out on to the deck. "That's very handsomely done,
my lads! Now let us see about lifting the poor fellows out. That chap
there in the bows seems in a very bad way! You'd better carry him into
the cuddy at once and let Mr O'Neil look after him."

"Indade, I will, sor," said our doctor-mate, who was standing near by
with a spirit flask in one hand and a medicine glass in the other, ready
to give immediate succour to the rescued men. "Carry the poor beggar
along an' I'll be afther ye in a minnit; for this other misfortunate
gossoon here looks as if he wouldn't be the worst for a dhrop of good
brandy, an' faith, I'll say to him fourst, avic!"

So saying the Irishman poured some of the contents of the spirit flask
into the glass, which he held to the lips of the man. Mr Fosset and I
were supporting him in our arms against the side of the boat, whence we
had just removed him.

The poor fellow's strength returned to him almost as soon as he