As the shock came when the Nancy Bell was put about, Frank Harness threw his arm round Kate’s waist to prevent her from being thrown down, holding on himself at the same time like grim death to the rail of the companion; and on the ship steadying, he released the girl and let go his hold. At that moment, however, a wave came over the poop, and he, being taken off his guard, was rolled over on the deck and washed towards the opening in the broken bulwarks.
Kate instantly, without hesitating for a second, made a snatch at his collar; and, clutching hold of it, in the very nick of time, saved him by a miracle—had he been carried overboard, no earthly power could have rescued him!
“Oh, Frank!” she exclaimed, “I thought I had lost you!” And, as he scrambled to his feet, pale with the suddenness of his peril and her effort to rescue him, the brave girl sank down, apparently lifeless, on the deck—all of a heap.
“Good heavens, she is dead!” cried Frank. “She has been killed in trying to save me!” and in the desperation of grief he looked as if he were going to throw himself into the sea.
“No, no, my boy,” said Mr Meldrum, who had witnessed the incident from the wheel-house, and had now come to his aid; “she has only fainted from revulsion of feeling and the strain on her nerves. Help me to carry her below.”
And, as the two descended the companion-way with their apparently inanimate burden, the young sailor could not help furtively kissing the floating tresses of dark brown hair that swept across his face as he tenderly supported Kate’s head on his shoulder, guarding it jealously in the passage below. His anxiety was soon afterwards relieved by Mr Meldrum coming out from the cabin where they had deposited poor Kate, and telling him that she was getting better.
It was a bad case with the ship, however; worse than anyone thought.
Soon after Frank and Mr Meldrum had left the deck, Ben Boltrope, who was still in the wheel-house with the Norwegian, called out to Captain Dinks:— “I think there’s something wrong with the rudder, sir,” he said.
“Wrong with the rudder!” repeated the captain. “What do you mean?” and he came nearer to look himself at the steering gear.