"
"They are there, no doubt," Jack said confidently; "crouching down,
I expect. He would not be there if they weren't, you may be sure.
Yes, there they are; those two muffled up figures. There, one of
them has thrown back her cloak and is waving her arm."
The two young men waved their caps.
"Are the anchors holding, Watkins? There's a tremendous strain on
that hawser."
"I think so, sir; they are both tight."
"Put them round the windlass, and give a turn or two, we must
relieve the strain on that hawser."
Since they had first seen the wreck the waves had made great progress
in the work of destruction, and the steamer had broken in two just
aft of the engines.
"Get over the spare spars, Watkins, and fasten them to float in
front of her bows like a triangle. Matthews, catch hold of that
boat hook and try to fend off any piece of timber that comes along.
You get hold of the sweeps, lads, and do the same. They would stave
her in like a nutshell if they struck her."
"Thank God, here comes the first of them!"
Those on board the steamer had not been idle. As soon as the yawl
was seen approaching slings were prepared, and no sooner was the
hawser securely fixed, than the slings were attached to it and a
woman placed in them.
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