Part 24 (1/2)

”It is time, Mr Shafto, for us to launch the boat, to go off to her, and we may then be ready. The captain thinks if he is once inside he will be all safe, but to my mind he will be greatly mistaken.”

”I'll follow your advice, Mr Bollard,” said Harry. ”We will do our best, lads, to help the people if the s.h.i.+p gets on sh.o.r.e. I know that I can depend on you.”

”Ay, ay, sir, and never fear,” answered the men, as they followed the young officer down the the hill. They kept the s.h.i.+p in sight all the way, and could still see her clearly from the beach.

On she stood, and the wind holding, she was able to steer directly for the harbour. Under ordinary circ.u.mstances she would have appeared secure of entering a haven of safety; but with the wind constantly s.h.i.+fting, the rocky sh.o.r.e on either side, and deep water close up to it, there would still be great danger, even should she succeed in making the entrance.

The boat was reached, but now came the difficulty of launching her; for the wind having s.h.i.+fted to the south, the sea raised across the broad estuary drove directly into the bay. Could they once get her safely through the surf, however, they might obtain shelter under the western point, where a reef running out formed a natural breakwater. They ran her down the beach, but when near the water both Harry and the boatswain hesitated about attempting to launch her. Should they not succeed in getting her quickly through the surf, one of the heavy seas which were breaking on the sh.o.r.e might roll her over and knock her to pieces, as well as endanger all their lives. Still, if they waited till any accident happened to the s.h.i.+p, they might be too late to render a.s.sistance to those on board.

As the stranger stood in, the English flag was seen flying at her peak, and from her appearance the boatswain p.r.o.nounced her to be a merchantman, probably an Australian emigrant s.h.i.+p, and that if so she would probably have numerous pa.s.sengers on board.

”She has evidently been fearfully knocked about,” said Harry, who was looking at her through his spy-gla.s.s. ”And I can only see one quarter-boat. Come, lads, we must try to launch the cutter. Dicey and Patch, do you jump in and stand by with the oars. When I give the word, we will run her down without stopping, and back out as the sea falls off.”

Harry waited till a heavy sea broke on the sh.o.r.e, then all hands uniting their strength, in another instant the boat was afloat. They leaped in, the oars were out in a moment, and before the next sea broke, the boat had been urged fifty fathoms from the beach. Only one small patch of water was visible where she could remain in safety, close inside the reef. They pulled towards it, the seas, as they rolled in, threatening to capsize her. It was reached, and by keeping the boat's head towards the outer rocks they were able to lie in comparative safety, and watch the progress of the s.h.i.+p.

”If the wind holds she will get in, and may be come to anchor under the south island,” observed Bollard.

”It would be safer for her, then, to run up the inner harbour; for should the wind afterwards s.h.i.+ft, she would be placed in a dangerous position,” said Harry.

”No doubt about that, sir,” observed Bollard. ”The chances are that she will leave her ribs on the rocks.”

”If so, we must do our best to save the people,” said Harry. ”The sea breaks heavily along the sh.o.r.e, and they will be placed in great danger.”

The s.h.i.+p meantime was standing boldly on, keeping close to the southern sh.o.r.e, for the purpose evidently of being well to windward. She had already reached the entrance of the sound, and now she was in comparatively smooth water, though the fierce gale made her heel over, threatening every instant to carry away her masts. It must have been an anxious time to those on board. Away to leeward the waves were das.h.i.+ng fiercely on the rockbound coast, and well they must have known, should any accident happen, that no power could save them from driving against it, when few could have hoped to escape with life.

The party in the boat continued anxiously to watch the s.h.i.+p. Harry was considering how he could best render her a.s.sistance. It was a long way by land to the mouth of the sound, and should she drive on sh.o.r.e in that direction, all on board might be lost before he and his party could reach the spot. Still the masts held, and the captain evidently dared not shorten sail, as only by carrying on could he hope to keep to windward.

”He is a brave seaman, whoever he may be,” observed Bollard. ”Hold on, good sticks, hold on, and you may still bring the stout s.h.i.+p into port!”

he added, apostrophising the masts.

”They see our flagstaff, and will probably steer for it,” said Harry.

”Or perhaps they are aware of the existence of the inner harbour, and purpose running up to an anchorage.”

The s.h.i.+p had now got within two miles of where the boat lay; and, sheltered somewhat by the land, she stood up more bravely than before to her canvas. The captain evidently did not like the look of the sh.o.r.e on his port side, as no preparations were made for coming to an anchor.

”She will do it now,” cried Bollard, ”if the wind holds for another quarter of an hour. See, she is keeping away. They have made out the entrance of the inner harbour. We might pull outside the reef, Mr Shafto, and get on board, to pilot her in. If they see us coming, they will have ropes ready for us.”

”It would be no easy matter to reach her, and we shall risk our lives and the loss of the boat, if we make the attempt till she is in smoother water,” said Harry. ”However, we may pull round to the harbour, and lead her in; they will be looking out for a boat, and will be sure to see us. Now, lads, give way. Dicey and Patch, you must keep the bailers going, for we shall s.h.i.+p some seas, and must be prepared. We will first get to windward, and step the mast, and then run merrily up.”

The s.h.i.+p was now standing almost across the sound, making directly for the mouth of the inner harbour. As she drew nearer, the gush of water from her sides, evidently forced out by pumps at work, showed her distressed condition, and the reason which had induced her commander to seek a haven instead of keeping the open sea. The boat had just got from under the shelter of the reef, when the wind again s.h.i.+fted several points to the westward, and blew with greater violence than before. The crew tugged bravely at their oars; but all their efforts could scarcely send the boat ahead in the teeth of the gale. The s.h.i.+p, heeling over, made her way across the sound. The mouth of the harbour was almost reached, when with redoubled violence the wind struck her. Down she heeled, and all her masts in one instant falling over her side, she lay a helpless wreck upon the water, driving rapidly towards the reef. So close was she already that Harry could see the people running along her decks. An anchor was let go, but even when the whole cable had run out, so great was the depth of water that it did not hold. Another anchor followed. Still the s.h.i.+p drove onwards.

Harry, forgetting his previous caution, urged his men to pull out, in the hopes of getting alongside before she struck, and saving, if possible, some of the females who might be on board. There was but little time to do so, however, for she was already within three cables'

lengths of the rocks.

”She holds! she holds!” cried w.i.l.l.y. The last anchor had brought her up. ”Whatever becomes of the s.h.i.+p, lads, the people may be saved.”

It was now seen that the only boat had been stove in when the masts were carried away.

”The lives of those on board may depend on our exertions, lads,” cried Harry, when he discovered this. The crew thus encouraged and incited, used every effort to reach the sorely battered vessel. Several persons were seen collected on the p.o.o.p, eagerly watching their approach. It was too probable that the anchor would not long hold, and when, driven on the reef, her destruction would be inevitable.

At length the boat succeeded in getting under the s.h.i.+p's quarter. ”Let no one attempt to get into the boat till the women are cared for,” cried some one from the p.o.o.p in a stern voice, as the boat lay tossing up and down.