t
not be quite so desperate as it had appeared to me to be--in which case
we could stand by them until the weather moderated sufficiently to
render the operation of launching a boat a comparatively safe one--but I
was very doubtful of this. The wreck had presented all the appearance
of being either waterlogged, or absolutely in a sinking condition; and
in either case there would be but little time to lose; for, even if the
craft were only waterlogged, her people were constantly exposed to the
danger of being washed overboard. These points, however, would soon be
made plain, for we were rapidly approaching the wreck; and the time had
arrived for us to commence our preparations.

Mr Roberts, meanwhile, had been forward, talking to the men; and
presently he came aft again to the poop, wearing a very gratified
expression of countenance.

"They are a downright good lot--those lads of ours, for'ard," he began,
as he ranged up alongside of me in the wake of the mizzen-rigging.
"I've just been on the fo'c's'le to find out what their ideas are about
manning a boat; and I'd hardly had a chance to mention the matter when
every man Jack of 'em gave me to understand that they were ready to do
anything you choose to ask 'em, and that I'd only to say who I'd have to
go in the boat with me. So I've picked Joe Murray and Tom Spearman,
Little Dick, and Hairy Bill--as they call him in the fo'c's'le; and if
you're agreeable, sir, I'll take the whaleboat gig; she's as light as a
cork, and far and away the prettiest boat for a sea like this. The
other gig would hold a man or two more, perhaps, but she's a much
heavier boat; and those flat-starned craft are not half so safe as a
double-ended boat when it comes to running before such a sea as this."

"I fully agree with you, Mr Roberts," said I; "and I am very much
obliged to you for your readiness to take command of the boat. Let two
hands lay aft at once and see that everything you require is in her, and
get her ready for lowering. The rest of the men can set to work to haul
up the courses, take in the jib, and brail in the spanker. I shall
heave to, and drop you as close to windward of the wreck as I can with
safety; and then shall fill, and round-to again close under her stern."

"Very good, sir," was the response. And Roberts turned away forthwith
to prepare for the work of rescue.

As we rapidly decreased the distance between ourselves and the wreck, it
became unmistakably c