He then thanked Blyth and me, and our boat’s crew, who undoubtedly deserved it from the way they had pulled.
I found that a cable had been carried out astern, and that preparations had been made for hauling off the ship at high water, which, as the sea had remained perfectly calm, the captain hoped to do without her having suffered material damage. She was now rapidly regaining her perpendicular position, and in a few minutes would be on an even keel. The brig, after following the pirates for a short distance, had hove to Captain Haiselden had no fancy for running in among the rocks.
Jack Radburn was soon on deck. “They are all right, I am thankful to say,” he observed to me; “they want to thank you and Mr Blyth as soon as you can go below, for coming to their assistance.”
By this time, the tide having risen, the ship was once more perfectly upright. The capstan palls were shipped, away we tramped round and round, straining every nerve. In vain we hove, the cable was strained to its utmost, but not an inch did we move. I saw the captain and his mates making long faces as if they thought that the ship was irretrievably lost. Uncle Jack cheered on the men. Already all the water had been started, and some of the heavy part of the cargo.
“Never fear, lads,” he shouted, “we must heave a few more packages overboard if we don’t move soon; but try again, lads, try again.”
We pressed against the capstan bars with all our might. Just then I felt her start.
“She moves, she moves!” burst from every mouth.
I shall never forget the delight we felt. Round went the capstan bars. Again and again we cheered.
We were dragging her off, it must be understood, stern first, exactly as she had come on, so that had any coral points existed they must have been torn away. By persevering, in a few minutes she was afloat; and by means of a hawser secured to the cable, it was brought round to the bows, and the ship rode safely at anchor.