Part 4 (2/2)
Another moment, and six brawny arms embraced Jeff, and lifted him into the boat.
”Not hurt, I hope, Jeff?”
”Not much, Davy--at least not to speak of; only I'm a bit stunned. Just let me lie here. One o' the _North Star's_ men can take my oar.”
There was no time for delicate attentions or inquiries in the circ.u.mstances, for the wreck of the mainmast had already given the boat, strong though it was, some damaging lunges as it shot wildly to and fro in the mad sea.
”All there?” demanded the c.o.xswain of the saved men, who had been rapidly counting their numbers.
”All here, thank G.o.d!” answered Captain Millet.
”Haul off, lads!”
The men laid hold of the hawser, and hauled with a will--not a moment too soon, for the wreck was breaking up, and the sea around was strewn with heavy timbers. Having hauled the boat up to her anchor, the latter was got in, and the oars were s.h.i.+pped. These last being made fast to the boat with strong lines, had not been lost in all the turmoil, though two of them were broken. They were replaced, however, by spare oars; and then the lifeboat, being pulled out of danger, hoisted her sc.r.a.p of sail and scudded away gaily before the wind for the sh.o.r.e with her rescued freight.
Of course the news spread like wildfire that the lifeboat had come in with the crew of the wrecked _North Star_--some said the whole crew, others, part of the crew; for verbal reports of this kind never do coincide after travelling a short way.
”Jeff, I must go straight to my sister, and be first wi' the news,” said Captain Millet on landing. ”You said my Rosebud is with her just now?”
”Yes, I'll go with 'ee, captain.”
”Come along, then, lad; but I fear you've got hurt. You're sure it isn't broken ribs?”
”Oh, nothing to speak of,” replied the youth, with a light laugh.
”First however, I must telegraph to the owners,” said the captain.
This duty performed, and his men comfortably housed in a neighbouring inn, Captain Millet and Jeff went off to the cottage. It was about two in the morning when they reached it. No one had yet been there. In his excited state of mind, the captain, who had no nerves, thundered at the door.
If there was one thing that Miss Millet had a horror of, it was housebreakers. She leaped out of bed, and began to dress in terror, having roused Rose, who slept with her.
”Burglars never thunder like that, auntie,” suggested Rose, as she hastily threw on her garments.
Miss Millet admitted the force of the argument and then, somewhat relieved, concluded that it must be tipsy men. Under this impression she raised the window-sash--her bedroom being on the upper floor--and looked timidly out.
”Go away, bad, naughty men!” she said, in a remonstrative tone. ”If you don't I shall send for the police!”
”Why, Molly, don't you know me?”
”Brother!” shrieked Miss Millet.
”Father!” exclaimed the Rosebud.
Need we say that, after a few more hurried touches to costume, the door was opened, and the untimely visitors were admitted? Need we add that when Rose, with a little cry of joy, leaped into her father's arms and received a paternal hug, she leaped out of them again with a little shriek of surprise?
”Father, you're all wet! a perfect sponge!”
”True, darling, I forgot! I've just been wrecked, and rescued by the lifeboat through G.o.d's great mercy, 'long with all my crew; and there,”
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