“She’s capsized after all, and they’ll have a hard swim of it,” shouted someone.
“No, she isn’t,” cried another voice; “I see her bows rising up on the outer roller. In another minute she’ll be clear of them.”
“Bravo! well done!” exclaimed the commodore, dancing with delight; “she’s through it, and will soon be on board the Busy Bee.”
The officer in charge of the steamer, it should be said, not finding the boats at the time expected, had, according to orders, got up steam and stood in to ascertain what had become of them.
“Now, my lads,” cried the commodore, “what the gig has done we can do. I’ll bring up the rear, and be ready to help any boat which may meet with an accident. The post of most danger is the post of honour, which I claim for myself; for those in the last boat will have less chance of being rescued than any of the rest.”
Adair was the next to attempt the hazardous experiment. His boat was half filled, but he got through without being swamped, and the water was baled out. The rest in succession followed, each officer waiting for a favourable opportunity to steer through the line of surf.