A boat was promptly lowered, in hope of saving anyone on her, and setting some canvas a volunteer crew got alongside. The woman was discovered calmly cooking food for her four young children, and evinced no anxiety for her safety. She would not leave her floating home; but the crew of the boat espied a steamer bearing down toward them, and the junk was finally towed back to Victoria.
The injured Chinamen were sent to hospital. The damage to the 'Alert' was speedily repaired, and thus ended Jack Clewlin's experience of a typhoon on the coast of China.
The destruction among the numberless 'sampans' huddled together along the fore-shore of the island had been great, and many people lost their lives. Not much injury was sustained among the shipping in the harbour, which was entirely owing to the off-shore direction of the wind.
When the barque had been again placed on the active list, everything capable of holding fresh water was filled, the sails were 'bent,' and the remainder of the emigrants, sixty-five able-bodied men, were received. The 'Alert' was ready to start on her voyage across the Pacific.
Only a few hours before leaving Hong Kong young Jack received his third letter from home, together with several 'Stonewell news-letters,' giving him the latest information of how matters thereabout were progressing. In one of the papers he suddenly saw the startling announcement, 'The loss of the "Silver Crown".' In breathless excitement he hurried to the forecastle, and told Readyman the sad news.
It appeared that on her arrival at Point de Galle, in Ceylon, for orders, the clipper had been sent to Calcutta, and was there sunk in the Hoogly during a cyclone.
'I hope the crew were saved, Master Jack,' the quarter-master exclaimed. 'We did well in making the exchange.'
'But seem to be going farther away from home all the time,' Jack added.
'Oh, the more days the more dollars, lad,' Readyman replied. 'Perhaps we may be chartered to bring back here a hold full of dead Chinamen's bones! You needn't look so scared, my son; it's often done. I've never been in the trade myself, but I know that every wandering pigtail makes it a point of honour to have his bones sent home for interment.'
'What a pity that they don't remain where they were born!' Jack exclaimed. 'They can live on a handful of rice for a month, and grow fat on it, too.'