"There must be another boat. Didn't one of the mates say there were others on the upper deck?"
"Yes, he said so, but do you suppose we can get it over in time?"
"We can try."
Rushing back to the head of the stairway they again picked the captain up and a moment later were on the upper deck. There they were encouraged to find three lifeboats hanging from their davits and, placing their burden gently down, they set about getting it ready to lower.
"Hurry," Jack gasped as the boat gave a sickening lurch. "She's going in a minute or two."
Jack had quickly succeeded in getting his rope clear, but Bob was not so fortunate. His had gotten caught and it took him some time to get it free.
"I'm doing the best I can," he panted pulling frantically at the stiff rope. "There, she's free. Now you hold them while I drag him over."
He handed his rope to Jack and rushed back a few feet for the captain. It was hard work getting him into the boat, but it was finally accomplished and, springing in after him, they quickly began to lower away. As the boat touched the water a heavy wave dashed it against the side of the ship and all but upset it, but Bob grabbed an oar and succeeded in fending it off before the next wave hit them and, a moment later, he was pulling on both oars with all his strength.
They were not twenty feet away from the ship when a loud explosion told them that the water had reached the boilers.
"Guess that'll finish her," Bob gasped.