Telling Jack to remain where he was, the mate hastened on deck, and signalling the brig, which was farther astern, the 'Alert' bore down to make inquiry.
CHAPTER VII
THE DANGERS OF TORRES STRAIT
'Fore crosstrees, there! Stand by to stow the royal.'
'Ay, ay, sir,' Jack sang out.
Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
The big German ship was abandoned, and must have been ashore several days.
However, having furled the fore royal Jack turned his attention toward the busy scene passing on the deck below, and keenly regretted that duty prevented a personal visit to the wreck. The hands were clearing away one of the boats, which was on the point of being lowered, when Captain Thorne himself hailed the masthead. 'Lay down from aloft,' he sang out. 'Look sharp!'
Jack seized the back-stay and slid to the deck, where, to his delight, he was ordered to join the boat, and immediately sat beside Mr. Statten.
A strong pull soon took them close to the wreck, which lay on a submerged reef some two fathoms below the surface, her decks sharply inclined at an angle of about fifty degrees, and the masts and yards still standing thrust out far beyond the hull, over which waves occasionally broke in jets of spray.