Part 25 (1/2)
The _Ruby_ remained hove-to under stor, she once moreon for several days, the wind had fallen to a light breeze, and the sea was smooth; it was soon after down Charlie Ross, as one of the allant forecastle He had been looking out for so away there on the starboard bohich puzzles e whale”
”It is either that or the hull of a diser
”I think it the latter You should have reported it to the officer of the watch I will go and do so”
dick Kee of the deck, for the lieutenants in those days, unless they were tarpaulins or brought up in the service, did not perforlass, and soon pronounced the object seen to be--as Roger supposed--the hull of a dismasted vessel He at once sent below to obtain perh she looks in a fearfully battered condition, there may still be people on board, and we must try to rescue them,” he observed
As the _Ruby_ drew nearer aon to a part of the shattered bulwarks and waving a flag
”There is one man on board at all events,” observed Keet a boat ready to lower, and I will let the Captain know that it is time to heave-to”
Captain Benbow just thenthe shi+p to the wind The boat was quickly alongside the stranger, a rope was thrown over the side by the er scrambled on board He and two other men were on foot, weak, and pale, and reduced almost to skeletons, while more lay about the deck unable to raise theer and thirst,” exclaier, who appeared to be an officer ”For two days not a particle of food have we eaten, nor has a drop of waterus some at once”
”The quickest ould be to take you to our shi+p,” said Roger, and he ordered his men to come up to carry the sufferers into the boat While he was speaking, it struck him, in spite of his pale cadaverous countenance and emaciated appearance, that the officer was his old friend Stephen Battisob; yet he did not like to ask hiht desire to reer when the _Ruby's_ men came to assist the officer
”No, no,” he said, ”take the remnant of ers I have endured hunger this far, and can hold out a little longer, while I do not think the vessel will go to the bottoer directed that the two seaers; pro to return immediately for the remainder, he pulled back to the shi+p as speedily as his crew could urge their oars On the way, he asked the two sea
”He was the mate of our vessel,” answered one of the erly
”Simon Bates, I fancy,” replied the other; ”but ays called hi out, ”Half a beaker of water and some biscuit, or any food to be found”
The water and some food were handed into the boat; and the ht were hoisted up on deck, henow, Mr Bates,” he said, addressing the officer; ”it is all right Thethe perishi+ng people into the boat, Roger offered theerly drunk, but one of the poor sufferers was too far gone to s the food Still, as there was life in hi hih I fear they are past help,” said the mate, in a low voice, for he was but just able to speak
Roger descended into the cabin There lay twotheir hands he saw at once they were dead In a berth on one side was another who seeone to speak Roger i out for some food and water, which was handed down to him He adht be revived sufficiently to be carried on deck Though he drank the water eagerly, just as he placed the food between his lips a deep sigh escaped hi found alive below, Roger, with those he had rescued, shoved off froed she would not keep afloat iven an account of what had occurred on board, Captain Benbow inquired if he knew the name of the er
”Then let hi those saved from the wreck,”
said the Captain ”And who are the other people?” he asked
”They are passengers, sir,” said Roger ”The shi+p's papers show that she was bound out fro, I suppose, to shoho the passengers are?” said the Captain
”I could discover no paper, sir,” answered Roger
The people were soon brought on board, and placed under the care of the doctor, who attended to theer, as on deck, observed the bow of the craft frohtly in the water, then down she went, stern first, and nothing was seen on the spot where she had floated, her hull being the coffin of the rest of her passengers