[CHAPTER XXIII—“EVERY INCH A MAN”]
“She’s a-goner!” shouted Bill, at the wheel.
“Steady!” cried Tom, at the lever.
The sounds of excitement and alarm among the passengers still aboard the Olivia and her crew told of a state of new distress and terror. The launch, now at a safe distance from either tug or steamer, was instantly put about.
“She can’t hold many more,” declared Bill.
“We can’t see those people drown,” responded Tom, and shut off the power, while Bill tried to hold the launch steady.
Tom got a boathook and stood braced against the cabin, ready to give assistance to any of three or four men he had seen leap overboard immediately after the Olivia had scuttled. His services were required, however, only in the case of one who was driven by a wave directly up to the launch. The others managed to swim to the steam tug, and were lifted aboard readily by the crew over its low sides.
The captain of the Olivia shouted out some quick orders. A cable came whirling across the deck of the tug. It was caught fast at both ends, a pulleyed davit was rigged, and the remaining passengers of the steamer slid along this. When the captain came last, Tom knew that the steamer had been abandoned to her fate.
“It’s all right,” he called to Bill.
“Nobody lost?”