k down there," pointing under the
counter; "he has scarcely left the ship a moment since the sailors went
away."

This was awkward. There seemed no chance of being able to get on board
to leeward, the whole of the ship's starboard side being completely
encumbered with wreck; and there was far too much sea to permit of our
running alongside to windward.

I took a careful glance at the gear aloft, and then made up my mind what
to do.

The ship's fore-yard was lying nearly square, the yard-arms projecting
several feet beyond the ship's sides, and I decided to board, by means
of the fore-brace, to windward.

I hailed the young girl, telling her what to do to assist me, and then
set about making preparations for leaving the _Water Lily_ in Bob's sole
charge for a while.

We took a double reef in the mainsail, and took the jib in altogether,
running in the jib-boom also. This placed the craft under handy canvas
for one man to work, and, at the same time, prevented the possibility of
the jib-boom being carried away. We also got our cork-fenders upon
deck, in case of unavoidably dropping alongside, and were then ready to
make the proposed experiment. The young girl had, meantime, made the
lee fore-brace fast, and had then gone over to windward and cast off the
running part of the weather-brace, which she threw overboard.

I now hailed again, telling her what we were about to do, and then
signed to Bob to put the helm up.

The cutter fell off until she was dead before the wind, when we gibed
her and hauled again to the wind on the starboard tack, so as to cross
the ship's stern at a sufficient distance to insure the success of our
contemplated manoeuvre.

Bob was a splendid helmsman, or I should have hesitated about attempting
the feat we were now going to put in practice, as the slightest
nervousness or want of tact on his part would have resulted in very
serious damage to the _Lily_, if it did not actually cause her total
destruction. But I had full confidence in his skill; and, moreover, was
there not a woman to be rescued from a position which might at any
moment become one of the most imminent peril, even if it were not so
already?

So, as soon as we were far enough to windward, I signed to Bob to put
down the helm, and round the little craft came like a top, and away we
flew down towards the ship's weather-side, going well free, but with the
sheets flattened in, all ready to luff and claw off to windward t