“Same here,� declared Jack, “I didn’t know what I was doing. I guess I was so scared of going down with the tender that I jumped for the first thing I saw.�
“We saved ourselves,� bawled Matt. “We’re here in the bowsprit rigging.�
“That’s the instinct of self-preservation,� said Matt. “I’ve read that it works blindly. But we’d better give ’em a hail up above. Hark! They are laying the vessel to and lowering a boat. I reckon they are going to look for us.�
“They must think that we are all in the water,� said Jack as there came a flapping of sails from out of the mist and then the creak of davit blocks and the splash of oars. The rush of water under the ship’s forefoot ceased and she came to a standstill.
“Ahoy, on deck there!� hailed Matt with stentorian lungs.
“Ahoy!� came from above, “where are you? We’ll save you. Keep up your courage.�
“We saved ourselves,� bawled Matt, “we’re here in the bowsprit rigging. Heave us a rope, and we’ll come on deck.�
“Are you all there?� came the voice incredulously.
“Well, I can’t see anything missing about me,� declared Matt, “yes we were all saved. You can call back the boat.�