“Now is our time, lads, if we’re to save our lives. I have spoken to those whom the captain named, but none of them will come. They shake their heads, and declare it useless.”
One of the quarter boats still remained uninjured. We went to her and found six of our men, one of whom was Larry, standing by the falls ready to lower her. Nettleship told us to jump in, there was not a moment to be lost. We found that he had put masts, and sails, and oars, and provisions aboard. Waiting till a sea surged up alongside, he and the men sprang into her.
“Cut, cut!” he cried.
The next instant I found that the boat was some fathoms from the ship. All was done so rapidly, and it seemed only by a miracle we got clear, that I can scarcely explain how it happened. I looked around, when what was my dismay to find that Tom was not with us. Looking up, I saw him on the deck.
“Leap! leap!” shouted Nettleship, though in the uproar his voice could not have been heard so far. Next instant Tom was in the water, striking out towards us.
“We have already as many aboard as the boat will carry,” cried some of the men.
What we had been about had been discovered by our unfortunate shipmates, who were now crowding to the side and shouting to us to return. Several in their fear leaped into the sea, but immediately disappeared. I caught sight of one head still above water. It was Tom Pim.
“Oh, take him in—take him in!” I cried out.
The men were getting out the oars. We were still, it must be understood, under the lee of the ship, or we should instantly have been swamped.
“We must have that lad aboard,” exclaimed Nettleship sternly. “I’ll not try to save you if you desert him.”