Once when her stern rose, I read the
name _Cecilia_ in broad white letters.
I was gazing intently, in the effort to witness some indication of
living thing on board, when, to my mingled consternation and horror, I
witnessed an arm projecting through the window of the deck-house and
frantically waving what resembled a white handkerchief. As none of the
men called out, I judged the signal was not perceptible to the naked
eye; and in my excitement I shouted, "There's a living man on board of
her, my lads!" dropped the glass, and ran aft to call the captain.
I met him coming up the companion ladder. The first thing he said was,
"You're out of your course," and looked up at the sails.
"There's a wreck yonder," I cried, pointing eagerly, "with a man on
board signaling to us."
"Get me the glass," he said sulkily; and I picked it up and handed it
to him.
He looked at the wreck for some moments; and addressing the man at the
wheel, exclaimed, making a movement with his hand, "Keep her away!
Where in the devil are you steering to?"
"Good heaven!" I ejaculated: "there's a man on board--there may be
others!"
"Damnation!" he exclaimed between his teeth: "what do you mean by
interfering with me? Keep her away!" he roared out.
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