n her for the wreck. The unfortunate
wretches on board waved us on. Several more made their appearance, as
we approached, from behind a sail which had been triced up round the
mainmast, which appeared to be the only shelter they had from the
inclemency of the weather. They were all holding on to ropes secured to
the masts or rigging, for without them they would certainly at once have
been washed off the deck into the sea.

On getting nearer, we saw one or two heads looking at us from above the
companion-hatch, which had escaped, and seemed to have afforded some
shelter to others. We pulled as close to her as we could venture to go.

"Remember if we come alongside only four of you at a time must get into
the boat, or we shall all lose our lives together!" shouted Peter. "Do
you hear me there?"

They signified that they did hear; but Peter's caution was very
unnecessary, for few of them could do more than crawl, and none of them,
without assistance, could have got into the boat.

"I see what must be done," said Peter to us. "You two remain in the
boat. There's a rope towing overboard from the main-rigging; I'll get
hold of it, and haul myself on her deck, and then, as best I can, I'll
drop the poor fellows into the boat!"

To propose was with him to act. As the boat with the send of the sea
approached the wreck, while we fended her off he seized the rope, which
he found secure, and though the water, as it came pouring down to
leeward, washed over him, he hauled himself up in a moment on her deck,
and stood among the miserable wretches who peopled it. They crawled
round him, and grasped his legs, to show their gratitude to him as their
deliverer. I saw by his action that he was telling them that there was
not a moment to be lost. Beckoning to us to approach, he seized one of
them up in his arms as if he had been an infant, and grasping the rope
with one hand, swung himself off from the side of the ship, and
deposited his burden in the boat, or rather in our arms, as we stood
ready to receive him. In a moment he was on the deck, and lifting up
another human being, sprung as before into the boat.

"How many of you are there?" he asked of one who seemed to be the
strongest of the crew, and looked by his dress like an officer. Once he
had evidently been a stout, broad-shouldered, muscular young man, now he
was a mere skeleton like the rest.

"Twelve or fourteen there were this morning, but I know not how ma