ngers of the steamer rushed to the
side to see what should become of the lads struggling in the water; the
mate threw overboard to them a couple of life-buoys; and the captain
shouted out to have a boat lowered. There was a great confusion.

Meanwhile, all this had been witnessed by the father of the MacNicols,
who had stood for a second or two as if paralysed. Then a sort of
spasm of action seized him, and, apparently not knowing what he was
about, he threw open the gangway abaft the paddle-box and sprang into
the sea.

[1] _Anglice_, owls.

CHAPTER III.

ALTERED CIRCUMSTANCES.

Even with this big steamer coming right down on them, Rob MacNicol did
not lose his head. He knew that his two brothers and his cousin Neil
could swim like water-rats; and as for himself, though he would have
given a good deal to get rid of his boots, he did not fear being able
to get ashore.

But there was no time to think.

'Jump clear of the boat!' he shouted to his companions.

The next second came the dreadful crash. The frail old boat seemed to
be pressed onwards and downwards, as if the steamer had run right over
her. Then Rob found himself in the water, and very deep in the water
too. The next thing he perceived was a great greenish-white thing over
his head; and as he knew that that was the hull of the steamer, he
struck away from it with all the strength at his disposal. He
remembered afterwards experiencing a sort of hatred of that shining
green thing, and thinking it looked hideous and dangerous, like a shark.

However, the next moment he rose to the surface, blew the water out of
his mouth, and looked around. There was a life-buoy within a yard of
him, and the people on the steamer were calling to him to lay hold of
it; but he had never touched one of these things, and he preferred to
trust to himself, heavy as he felt his boots to be. It was the others
he was looking after. Neil, he perceived, was already off for the
shore, swimming hand over hand, as if a swordfish were after him.
Nicol was being hauled up the side of the steamer at the end of a rope,
just as he had been hauled up from the Eilean-na-Rona dungeon; and his
brother Duncan had seized hold of the helm that had been cast loose
when the boat went down. Satisfied that every one was safe, Rob
himself struck out for the side of the steamer, and was speedily hauled
on board, presently finding himself on deck with his two dripping
companions.