He soon found what he wanted. It was a long rope, and before the boys had fathomed his intention he rove one end of it through a pulley on the end of a boom that projected from a mast, and which had been used to hoist cargo from the hold.
“Now if you boys will lower me down I’ll get the pussy and you can haul us both up,” Sam said, as he fastened the rope about his waist. The chums did as he requested, and soon Sam’s head disappeared into the depths of the vessel. The boys could hear him calling:
“Here, pussy! Here, pussy! Sam’ll take care of you! Must be hungry, poor little kittie!”
They felt the rope slacken, indicating that the sailor had landed on the pile of boxes. Then it shook, showing that Sam was after the cat. A little later they heard him calling:
“Haul away! I’ve got her!”
Just as the boys began to pull on the rope that was to hoist the sailor from the hold there came a sudden jar to the wreck. The deck, that was tilted at a sharp angle, assumed a more decided one. At the same time there was a grinding, crashing sound.
“Hurry!” yelled Sam. “She’s breaking up!”
There was a sickening lurch to the after part of the ship. The boys could hardly keep their feet.
“Pull! Pull!” cried Sam, from the depths of the hold, where the cargo could be heard shifting about.