On the waves near at hand he could see nothing; but ashore was a small group of men gazing toward him.
“Stand by for a line!” he heard Mr. Downey shout, and then all fear for himself fled as he thought of those on the lighter.
“I am all right!” he cried at the full strength of his lungs. “I’ll hold on here while you launch the surf-boat.”
He did not wait to hear the reply, but looked hurriedly around for the lighter, and his breath came quick and fast as he saw the huge craft almost upon him.
The wind was driving her down on a line with the stranded steamer, and the life-boat, in her lee and sheltered from the gale, was being swept by the undertow in the opposite direction.
Now he understood that there were other dangers than those of being dashed against the rocks, and for an instant it seemed certain the end had come.
He saw a human figure standing near the edge of the huge craft, and to him he shouted wildly:
“Can’t you throw me a line?”
There was no time for a reply. Benny had hardly more than cried out before the small boat was grating against the side of the hulk, and at the same instant he who had been peering over the side leaped down.
The impetus given by the man’s body flung the life-boat to one side, and in the merest fraction of time she was astern of the dangerous fabric which swept onward, leaving a wake behind like that of a steamer.