There's plenty of
hot coffee and soup. I should advise soup with two or three spoonfuls
of brandy in it. Now, excuse me; I must go upon deck."
Twelve men descended by the hawser, one of them with both legs
broken by the fall of the mizzen. The last to come was the captain.
"Is that all?" Tom asked.
"That is all," the captain said. "Six men were swept overboard when
she first struck, and two were killed by the fall of the funnel.
Fortunately we had only three gentlemen passengers and three ladies
on board. The weather looked so wild when we started that no one
else cared about making the passage. God bless you, sir, for what
you have done! Another half hour and it would have been all over
with us. But it seems like a miracle your getting safe through the
rocks to us."
"It was fortunate indeed that we came along," Tom said; "three
of the passengers are dear friends of mine; and as it was by my
persuasion that they came across in the steamer instead of in the
yacht, I should never have forgiven myself if they had been lost.
Take all your men below, captain; you will find plenty of hot soup
there. Now, Watkins, let us be off; that steamer won't hold together
many minutes longer, so there's no time to lose. We will go back
as we came.
Pages:
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203