Beside her sat the other women, and, near to them, a stern old gentleman, who, with compressed lips, quietly awaited orders.
“Come, quick!” said Charlie, grasping by the arm one of the women.
It was the skipper’s wife. She jumped up right willingly and went on deck. There she found her child already in the life-buoy, and was instantly lifted in beside it by her husband, who looked hastily round.
“Come here, Dick,” he said to a little cabin-boy who clung to a stanchion near by. “Get in.”
The boy looked surprised, and drew back.
“Get in, I say,” repeated the skipper sternly.
“There’s more women, sir,” said the boy, still holding back.
“True—brave lad! but you’re wanted to keep these from getting washed out. I am too heavy, you know.”
The boy hesitated no longer. He squeezed himself into the machine beside the woman and child.
Then up at arm’s-length went the skipper’s sou’-wester as a signal that all was ready, and the fishermen began to haul the life-buoy to the shore.