boy. He sprang on deck and waved a handkerchief
wildly, apparently shouting with all his power, though his voice could
not be heard amidst the roaring of the sea and the lashing of the ropes
as the ship was luffed up close to the wind. Captain Davenport seized
his speaking-trumpet and shouted, "We will keep by you! Do not fear!"
Just then another head was seen. "A young girl!" cried several of those
looking on. A mere child she seemed at that distance, her light hair
blowing about in the wind.

"Bless them!" said old Tarbox; "I would go to help them if there was
twice the sea there is on."

Preparations were now made for heaving the ship to, but the captain was
anxious to wait, in the hopes of the sea going down still more before
night, when there might be less risk in bringing the people from off the
wreck. A great risk under similar circumstances is run when those on
board a ship on fire or likely to sink leap hurriedly in too great
numbers into the boat alongside. In many such instances the boat has
been swamped, and the lives of all in her sacrificed. Here, such a
danger was not likely to occur, as no crew apparently remained on board.
The question, however, was, whether the wreck would float till the sea
had sufficiently gone down to enable a boat to board her without risk.
As the ship gradually receded from the wreck, the young boy was seen to
lift up his hands imploringly, as if to beg for assistance. At length
the boatswain came aft and addressed the captain.

"If you will let me have the life-boat, sir, there are six hands ready
to go in her; and I will undertake to board that craft, and bring off
any people we may find alive. To my mind, from the way she rolls, she
has not got many hours longer to swim; and if she was to go down, those
young people we saw would have to go down in her, and that's what my
eyes would not like to watch."

"No indeed, Tarbox," said the captain. "Mr Thudicumb, what do you
say?"

"I was going to volunteer, sir," said the first officer; "but though I
yield to no other man on board in the management of a boat, I
acknowledge that Tarbox can handle one in a sea better than any man I
have ever met with; and on that account, and not because I am afraid of
risking my life, I yield to him."

"Thank you, Mr Thudicumb," said the boatswain. "I should have said the
same thing of you, sir; but you have a wife and children at home, and it
matters little what becomes of old Dick