“Jump on board the Boo-boo-boo, Willie, and fetch the poor creature a bit of meat.”
Willie was off in a moment, and soon returned with a plate of food, which the cat ate ravenously.
It surely spoke well for the goodness of those young men’s hearts that, in the midst of their own sore trouble and danger, they could think about a cat.
. . . . . .
The mate and captain now held a consultation, and the derelict was thoroughly examined. There was a considerable amount of water in her hold, and she was leaking badly, but with care she would float a week, while, alas! the poor Boo-boo-boo might sink at any moment, and certainly would go down in a few hours.
It was determined, therefore, to take possession of the derelict, and with this view the Boo-boo-boo’s boats, spare spars, water, provisions, with everything useful, were transferred on board her.
There was hurry, certainly, for there was no time to lose, but there was no confusion.
As soon as everything was done, it being evident the Boo-boo-boo was going fast, all hands got out of her and she was cut adrift. At the same time sail was made on the foremast—the only remaining one—and jibboom of the derelict, and she was soon well off from the doomed and sinking barque.