promptitude when called for.

At about twelve o'clock, sure enough, the call was heard, in the
somewhat agitated tones of the captain. The passenger, whose business it
was, for we took the watch each in his turn--immediately jumped up and
handed up the lantern. Thinking this sufficient, we remained as we were;
but in less than a minute, it was brought back extinguished, and thrown
down into the cabin. Immediately after a general view holloa was audible
above the roar of the storm, and the mate's voice was heard at the top
of our staircase, begging us to get up as we were going to be run down.

We now lost no time in making our way to the deck; no one speaking a
word, but each waiting for his turn to mount. Being furthest from the
staircase, or rather ladder, I arrived the last. On reaching the deck, I
was met by about a ton of salt water, which appeared to have mistaken me
for a wicket, as it came in as solid a mass, and with about the same
impulse as a cricket ball. Finding I was not to be dashed back again
down stairs, it took the opportunity of half filling the cabin, the door
of which I had not thought of shutting. On recovering my breath and
reopening my eyes, I discerned, by aid of the white bed-apparel of my
fellow passengers, a dim crowd, pressed together at the bow of the
vessel, consisting of all the inhabitants of the frail tenement,
excepting the steersman and myself. I rushed forward; but finding my
voice insufficient to add any effect to the cry which had been set up,
to give notice to the crew of the approaching vessel, I made for the
side, which I saw, by the position of the group, was threatened with the
expected contact; and catching at a rope ladder, placed myself on the
top of the bulwarks, resolved on trying a jump as the only chance of
escape in case of meeting.

There was now time to examine our situation perfectly well. I looked
towards the stern, and could see that the helm was not deserted: but it
was of no avail to save us from the danger; since, sailing as near the
wind as we could, as far as I understood the subsequent explanation of
the sailors, we could not change our direction on a sudden, otherwise
than by turning a sort of right-about-face. We went on, therefore,
trusting that the other crew would hear the cry, and discover our
position in time. The night being extremely dark, and the sea running
high, the approaching vessel was scarcely visible to us when first
pointed out by the sa