“If I take any disease, and die, I shall die at the post of duty; and I should be afraid to die anywhere else,” said the heroic woman; “and I shall not have lived in vain. Louise can do as she pleases. I do not ask her or my husband to go with me.”
“But Miss Rodwood has been an invalid, and it will be a pretty severe experience for her to act as a nurse on board of a mere hulk, taking care of soldiers and sailors,” said Capt. Fairfield.
“Perhaps it is just the experience my sister needs; and it may prove to be a blessing to her,” replied Mrs. Frisbone. “If she can put her whole mind to this humane task, I am sure it will be a benefit to her.”
The lady evidently had views of her own on this subject; and, as it appeared that her sister’s mind was somewhat affected, it was possible that she understood the case better than any other person.
The next thing was to get the devoted party on board of the wreck without exposing any of the students to the danger of infection. O’Hara studied the case, and talked it over with the carpenter and boatswain. It was not prudent to board the Castle William on the weather side, for the sea would be likely to stave the boat against her sides. If it went to leeward, the crew of the boat would be exposed to the peril of the pestilential air from the ship. At last it was decided that none of the students should go in the boat that conveyed the passengers and stores. The Prince, the adult forward officers, and one of the stewards, were to act as oarsmen. The stores were sent first; and they were hoisted by the three well men on board of the ship. The ladies who had been so unwilling to be lowered in a boat when the object was to save their own lives were let down into the cutter in a sling; and they were safely hoisted on board of the Castle William. The boat returned with all its crew except the Prince.
The Ville d’Angers then ran off a considerable distance from the wreck, as far as she could and not lose sight of it. It was very quiet on deck and in the cabin. The vessel was rolling in the sea, and there was nothing to be done but to wait for the fog to lift. Gregory, the officer of the deck, was like a monarch without a kingdom; and when Clinch came in his way, he insisted that it was dull music.
The steamer had been turned head to the sea, and the screw was revolved just enough to keep the vessel from drifting upon the Castle William. When she was in danger of losing sight of the wreck, the engine was stopped for a time. But the quartermaster attended to all this business, and to the sounding of the whistle.
“I wish I was back in the Josephine again,” said Gregory when he met Clinch.
“Why so? This isn’t a bad craft to be on board of,” replied the third officer.
“This steamer is officered by about all the Tritonia’s fellows,” growled Gregory. “Those that came from the Josephine are mere ciphers. O’Hara hasn’t spoken a word to me since we made out that wreck; and I am the first officer of the steamer.”