the
deck, and supporting himself by holding on to the mizzen-rigging as he
stood on the taffrail and peered forward along the ship's side, to where
he could now notice the floating object ahead, almost in the wind's-eye.

"Luff, you beggar, luff!" he added, to the steersman, who, with both
hands on the wheel, was exerting all his strength to keep the vessel's
head up.

"She can't do it, sir," replied the sailor, hoarsely. "It's all I can
manage to prevent her falling off now."

"She must do it!" was the captain's answer. "Watch, ahoy! Brace round
those topsail-yards a bit more! Cheerily, men, with a will!"

"Yo-ho-heave-oh-e! Yo-ho-heave!" rang out the chorussed cry of the crew
pulling together at the braces, until the topsails lay like boards
almost fore and aft the ship. And yet her head could not be induced to
veer a fraction towards the desired point, but rather fell off if
anything.

"Guess we shall have to put more sail on her," said Seth Allport, mate
of the _Susan Jane_, singing out from amidship, where he was on duty.
"Guess so, Cap'en, if you want to fetch him."

"It's risky work, Seth," rejoined the skipper, "for she's now got as
much on her as she can carry. But I s'pose it must be done if we're to
pick up that poor fellow. Here, boys," he cried out suddenly to the
crew, "we must shake a reef out of the mainsail. Look smart, will ye!"

The effect of this sail was soon apparent. No sooner had the folds of
canvas expanded to the wind than the _Susan Jane_ heeled over with a
lurch as if she were going to capsize, bringing her bow so much round
that her jib shivered, causing several ominous creaks and cracks aloft
from the quivering topmasts.

"She'll do it now, sir," said the mate, who had come aft, and with
another of the crew lent a hand to assist the steersman, who found the
wheel too much for him now unaided, with the additional sail there was
on the ship.

"Steady! How's the poor chap bearing now?" asked the skipper, hailing
the lookout once more, as he lost sight of the wreckage by the vessel's
change of position and the lifting of the bow so much out of the water
forward as she rose on the sea.

"Right ahead. Just a trifle to leeward, boss."

"How far off?"

"A couple of cables' lengths, I guess, Cap'en. Better send a hand
forrud in the chains to sling him a rope, or we'll pass him by in a
minnit."

"Right you are," was the reply of the good-hearted skipper, as he rushed
a