Part 23 (2/2)
”You may,” replied the captain.
Just as the mate turned to obey, a shriek was heard high above the whistling of the fierce wind.
”Did you hear that?” said the captain anxiously.
”I did,” replied the mate. ”I fear--I trust--”
The remainder of the sentence was either suppressed, or the howling of the wind prevented its being heard.
Just then a flash of lightning lit up the scene, and a terrific crash of thunder seemed to rend the sky. The flash was momentary, but it served to reveal the men on the yards distinctly. They had succeeded in close-reefing the topsails, and were hurrying down the rigging.
The mate came close to the captain's side and said, ”Did you see, sir, the way them men on the mainyard were scramblin' down?”
The captain had not time to reply ere a shout, ”Man overboard!” was heard faintly in the midst of the storm, and in another instant some of the men rushed aft with frantic haste, shouting that one of their number had been blown off the yard into the sea.
”Down your helm,” roared the captain; ”stand-by to lower away the boats.”
The usual prompt ”Ay, ay, sir,” was given, but before the men could reach their places a heavy sea struck the vessel amids.h.i.+ps, poured several tons of water on the decks, and washed all the loose gear overboard.
”Let her away,” cried the captain quickly.
The steersman obeyed; the s.h.i.+p fell off, and again bounded on her mad course like a wild horse set free.
”It's of no use, sir,” said the mate, as the captain leaped towards the wheel, which the other had already gained; ”no boat could live in that sea for a moment. The poor fellow's gone by this time. He must be more than half-a-mile astern already.”
”I know it,” returned the captain, in a deep sad voice. ”Get these masts down, Mr Millons, and see that everything is made fast. Who is it, did you say?”
”The men can't tell, sir; one of 'em told me 'e thinks it was young Boswell. It was too dark to see 'is face, but 'is figure was that of a stout young fellow.”
”A stout young fellow,” muttered the captain, as the mate hurried forward. ”Can it have been Glynn?” His heart sank within him at the thought, and he would have given worlds at that moment, had he possessed them, to have heard the voice of our hero, whom, almost unwittingly, he had begun to love with all the affection of a father. While he stood gazing up at the rigging, attempting to pierce the thick darkness, he felt his sleeve plucked, and, looking down, observed Ailie at his side.
”My child,” he cried, grasping her by the arm convulsively, ”_you_ here!
How came you to leave your cabin, dear? Go down, go down; you don't know the danger you run. Stay--I will help you. If one of those seas comes on board it would carry you overboard like a fleck of foam.”
”I didn't know there was much danger, papa. Glynn told me there wasn't,” she replied, as her father sprang with her to the companion-ladder.
”How? when? where, child? Did Glynn speak to you within the last ten minutes?”
”Yes; he looked down the hatch just as I was coming up, and told me not to be afraid, and said I must go below, and not think of coming on deck; but I heard a shriek, papa, and feared something had happened, so I came to ask what it was. I hope no one is hurt.”
”My darling Ailie,” replied the captain, in an agitated voice, ”go down to your berth, and pray for us just now. There is not _much_ danger; but in all times of danger, whether great or slight, we should pray to Our Father in Heaven, for we never know what a day or an hour may bring forth. I will speak to you about everything to-morrow; to-night I must be on deck.”
He kissed her forehead, pushed her gently into the cabin, shut the door, and, coming on deck, fastened the companion-hatch firmly down.
In a short time the s.h.i.+p was prepared to face the worst. The topsails were close-reefed; the topgallant-masts sent down on deck; the spanker and jib were furled, and, soon after, the mainsail and foresail were also furled. The boats were taken in and secured on deck, and the s.h.i.+p went a little more easily through the raging sea; but as the violence of the gale increased, sail had to be further reduced, and at last everything was taken in except the main spencer and foretopmast-staysail.
”I wouldn't mind this much,” said the captain, as he and the first mate stood close to the binnacle, ”if I only knew our exact position. But we've not had an observation for several days, and I don't feel sure of our whereabouts. There are some nasty coral reefs in these seas. Did you find out who the poor fellow is yet?”
<script>