“She’s going to pass us after all,” cried Jim, “and there’s not another sail in sight.”
Just as he spoke there came a puff of smoke with a bright flash, from the ship’s bows, followed by a sharp report.
“We are seen! We are seen!” shouted Jim. “That’s a signal to us. Hurrah! Hurrah!”
The ship now came rapidly on, and we had no longer any doubt about being rescued. This very circumstance caused a reaction in our feelings, and, strange as it may seem, we both burst into tears. We recovered ourselves, however, very soon, and continued waving, still having an idea that the ship might sail away from us, but on and on she came. Presently her courses were brailed up, and she hove-to about three cables’ lengths from our mast. Almost at the same instant one of her boats was lowered, and came pulling towards us as fast as the men could bend their backs to the oars. In a few minutes kindly hands were stretched out to help us into the boat.
“Are you the only two?” asked the mate, who was steering.
“Yes, sir; all the rest are gone,” I answered.
“Well, we’ll hear all about it when we get you on board, lads, for you both seem as if you wanted looking after,” he said.
The boat leaving the mast, returned rapidly towards the ship.
While most of the crew scrambled up the sides, the tackles were hooked on, and we were hoisted up in the boat, from whence we were speedily handed down on deck. I could not have stood if I had not been supported, and Jim was much in the same condition.
We were soon surrounded by strange faces, some looking compassionately upon us, others with indifference, as if it was a matter of very little consequence that two boys should have been saved from perishing.