The rudder chains had given way, and the ship was driving alternately broadside and stern on, towards the line of breakers, above which we could discern the outline of a dark and rocky shore.
'She will strike in ten minutes!' cried one of the mates.
The men became excited, and tumultuous cries ascended from the waist.
'Clew up—cut away the masts—lower the boats!'
Then followed shouts, disputes and struggles for spars, booms, and hen-coops.
'Silence fore and aft—silence!' cried old Crank, through his trumpet; 'boatswain, pipe away the barge and cutter—be ready to lower away the boats, man the pumps, and stand by to cut away the masts the moment she strikes!'
'Be cool, Highlanders—be cool, and fall into your ranks, my lads!' cried Major Catanagh, perceiving that the crowding of the soldiers upon the deck impeded the movements of the seamen; 'fall in here across the main-deck: bugler sound the assembly—sound, my boy.'
Long and loudly blew the little bugle-boy the familiar barrack-yard call, and strangely and wildly, at that terrible moment, it rang upon the roaring wind, which seemed to tear the very notes off at the bugle mouth, and sweep them to leeward with the hissing foam.
'Fall in, my lads—fall in, and keep in order. If the boats can save us, we shall be saved the more readily by being in order to leave the ship. If she splits below us, then we shall die in our ranks like British soldiers, and like our father's sons—hoping everything from a gracious God and fearing nothing. Remember your discipline, my lads, and keep up your hearts—mine has not sunk yet, though like many among you, I have a dear wife and bairns at home in Scotland. Close in, shoulder to shoulder, and remember the glorious example of Seton and his Highlanders in the Birkenhead.'
A faint hurrah responded to this brief speech, and like a dark mass in their soaked great coats, the poor fellows immediately formed in their ranks, four deep across the deck in front of the poop, where they stood in silence and in order awaiting either death or deliverance with that calmness and fortitude for which no soldiers in Europe can surpass our own braves.