Brand, who was not far off, might easily have saved him by springing and grasping his hand.
For reasons which may be imagined, he resolved to leave the man to his fate!
The rope being, as stated, a rotten one, broke!
"My God! he is gone!" shrieked the hypocritical captain.
[CHAPTER IV.]
LASHED AND ADRIFT.
"Guess not!" answered the voice of old Tom Turk, "he's as safe as a marlinespike in a rack!"
So saying, the old fellow by a dextrious movement, threw a bowline hitch he had quickly formed at the end of a rope, over the young man's head, and drew him safely aboard.
Mary, who, hearing of her lover's peril, had ventured on deck in spite of the storm, sprang towards him.