I looked up the high side of the steamer: there was a crowd of men assembled round the gangway, their faces visible in the light shed not only by our own masthead lantern (which was on a level with the steamer’s bulwarks), but by other lanterns which some of them held. In all this light we, the occupants of the boat, were to be clearly viewed from the deck; and the voice that had first addressed us said:
“Are you strong enough to get up the ladder? If not, we’ll sling you on board.”
I answered that if a couple of hands would come down into the boat so as to help the lady and a man (who had fallen imbecile) over the ship’s side, the other two would manage to get on board without assistance.
On this a short gangway-ladder was lowered, and two men descended and got into the boat.
“Take that lady first,” I said, pointing to Mary, but holding on, as I spoke, to the boat’s mast, for I felt horribly sick and faint, and knew not, indeed, what was going to happen to me; and I had to exert all my power to steady my voice.
They took her by the arms, and watching the moment when the wash of the swell brought the boat against the ship’s side, landed her cleverly on the ladder and helped her on to the deck.
THE CAPTURE OF THE COTTON SHIP
(From Tom Cringle’s Log.)
By MICHAEL SCOTT.
