Just then they heard the boatswain shouting out to the crew to lower a boat, the only one remaining.
“Don’t let us go in her,” said Tom; “if the ship holds together, we shall be better off where we are: when daylight comes we can form a raft, and if there is any land near we may get there on it.”
Both Desmond and Billy agreed to do as Tom proposed.
Just then Jerry came up. “I’ll stick by you, whatever you intend doing,” he answered, when Tom told him what he proposed.
In the mean time, the boatswain, with the survivors of the crew, had lowered the boat, and were throwing various things into her. Jerry made out Tim and Pat among the people about to go off.
“Where are you going to?” he shouted. “Mr Rogers says he’ll stick by the wreck, and you’ll not be deserting him, I hope?”
“That I’ll not. Tim Nolan is not the man to desert his officer,” answered Tim, as he made his way to the after part of the ship, where Jerry was. Pat either did not hear Jerry, or determined to go off in the boat if he could. The doctor and Peter, who had come on deck, seemed undecided. It was evident from the dislike Peter had for the boatswain that he was unwilling to accompany him. The boatswain, with six other men, who alone remained of the crew, disappeared over the side into the boat. The doctor, seized by a sudden impulse, rushed to the side of the ship, shouting—
“Take me with you! take me with you!” but the oars had been got out, the boat shoved off, and was already tossing among the broken water on the lee of the ship, several fathoms off.
“You are safer on the wreck than in that boat,” said Tom, as the doctor came back.
“Dat you are, Massa Locock,” said Peter. “See dare where de boat go.”