Part 44 (1/2)
The co it likely that she had kept to the ard, steered in that direction
The day wore on, but still no sail appeared, nor did it seehted The shi+p was therefore put about to rejoin the _Ione_
Soon after noon the wind fell, and the _Lily_ layforth with intense heat,the pitch in the seams of the deck bubble up, and every piece of metal feel as if it had just coht every spot of shade which the sails afforded, and made frequent visits to the water-cask to quench their thirst
A few hours thus passed by, when, away to the south-east, a few clouds could be seen floating across the sky
”The calm can only be partial, for there's wind out there,” observed the co the clouds out to the first lieutenant ”I hope we shall soon get it”
In this he was disappointed The day went by; the shi+p still lay ht caain rose that the sails were heard to give several loud flaps against theover the surface of the water, and at length the canvas swelled out to an easterly breeze The tacks were hauled aboard, and the _Lily_ stood in the direction it was supposed the _Ione_ would be found, over the course she had just coress It freshened, however, in the evening, and during the night the log showed that she was going at a fair rate
Rayner was in thewatch, and was forhen the look-out from the mast-head shouted, ”A piece of wreck away on the starboard bow” As the shi+p would pass close by it, she was kept on her course Rayner was exalass, when he sahat he supposed was a personon it
He went aft, and reported this to the first lieutenant, as on deck, and the shi+p was headed up towards it ”I can see four or fivedown One ”
By this time the commander had come on deck, and as the shi+p drew near, he ordered a boat to be got ready
Two of the men were seen to rise on their knees, and wave
”They ed to the crew of the shi+p which blew up the other day, though how they escaped seems a miracle,” observed the commander
”Poor fellows, they must have suffered fearfully! Put a beaker of water and some food in the boat They'll want nourishment as soon as possible”
The corvette was hove-to Rayner took charge of the boat, the crew pulling eagerly away to the rescue of the hapless men on the raft
As they drew near, Rayner observed, to his surprise, as he stood up steering, that one of the persons kneeling on the raft was dressed in the uniforive way!” he shouted
The boat was quickly up to the raft, which was a portion apparently of the poop deck Besides the young Englishman, there were five persons dressed as ordinary seaard, and their whole appearance wretched in the extreive us water!” cried the young Englishman; while the other men, ere scarcely able to move, pointed to their mouths One lay stretched on the raft, apparently lifeless, and another seeone to recover
Two of the _Lily's_ crew leapt on the raft, and, lifting up the English midshi+pman, carried him to the stern-sheets, where Rayner stood with a cup of water ready to give hierly drank the contents A secondhad in the erness to reach it, stretched out his arlish seaently poured the water down his throat He and two more were lifted on board They then took a cup to the rest, ere too weak to htest exertion
They poured soasp, and then sank back, apparently lifeless A sixth person was already beyond huain at his side
”Are we to take these two bodies with us?” asked one of the men ”They don't seem to have any life in them”
”Yes, by all e about the them round”
The two bodies were placed in the bows, and the crew giving way, Rayner steered for the shi+p As he looked at the countenance of the English ht he had seen him before He did not trouble hih the latter had asked for water, it was very evident that he was unable to answer the midshi+pman was the first lifted on board