Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 137.djvu/762

756 footing on them, till some passing vessel comes to take us off."

Thus having spoken on the spur of the moment, the selfishness of his speech struck him. "I wish this crippled old gentleman had not been here," – so, we may suppose, ran the current of his thoughts. "But as he is here, I am bound to see him through it, worse luck." And then he added, "If you keep by me, or rather, stay by the companion here, I shall come back before I leave, and will gladly give you a helping hand."

Hardly even when talking to Mr Moray, had Jack ever invested words to better purpose. And indeed in this case, Winstanley had reason to be doubly grateful. Not only did the calmness of the young stranger help him to regain his self-possession, but it was a promise of self-sacrifice which he felt assured would be redeemed. So whether his feelings were too much for him or not, he merely squeezed the young gentleman's hand by way of answer.

While we have been lingering over this conversation apart between the only two people in whom we are greatly interested, incidents were being fast crowded into seconds. Had it been daylight, one might have looked on at a veritable panic. The Celts in the steerage had sufficiently recovered from their stupor to be seriously alarmed. They had animal courage enough, but it was ill adapted to unfamiliar circumstances. They made a rush at the boats, and carried them by storm. Their frenzied impetuosity knocked a hole in the bottom of one, which happened to be loaded with coils of wire fencing. As for the other, by the aid of the seamen it was lowered into the water tant bien que mal. But that boat was to the windward side of the ship, and the surf was strong, and the gear slightly fouled at one end. Naturally the boat upset under a cascade of human beings, most of them weighing considerably over fourteen stone; and then it became a case of "save who can," for no one had a thought to bestow upon his neighbours. Two or three who fell struggling in the deeper water, were swept to sea or under the ship's counter, and were seen no more. The rest, to their surprise and pleasure, regained their legs, and were either washed up against the swamped boat and the swinging tackle, or, clutching wildly at each other, their feet struck on the rocks, up which they scrambled through the shoaling water, till, clinging to the slippery sea-weed like limpets, they had time for recollection and a long breath. Then one or two, with more presence of mind than the others, shouted out that there was firm footing under the ship's bows; and when the good news had slowly circulated on board, relief from the apprehension of immediate danger brought about a wonderful reaction. Their safety need only be a question of time, and the indolent side of the excitable Highlanders turned upwards again.

And with a falling ground-swell and calm weather they might have been well contented to wait indefinitely. But as the first breaking of the dawn began to streak the eastern sky, there came an ominous sighing and whistling through the shrouds and the funnel-stays, which caused the mate and the shock-headed steward to prick their ears and exchange significant glances. The wind was getting up, as the glass had prognosticated a gale; and when the waves rose with the wind, the Cuchullin would probably go to pieces. Nor, as the breaking of the day made objects visible, was the sight of the reef on