He is mad with thirst, for he drank
the water on the deck;" and she pointed to the man in the bottom of the
boat.
"My God!" I cried to the men, "do you hear her? They have not drunk
water for two days! For the love of God, give way!"
They bent their backs to the oars, and the boat foamed over the long
swell. The wind was astern and helped us. I did not speak again to
the poor girl; for it was cruel to make her talk, when the words
lacerated her throat as though they were pieces of burning iron.
After twenty minutes, which seemed as many hours, we reached the
vessel. The crew pressing round the gangway cheered when they saw we
had brought people from the wreck. Duckling and the skipper watched us
grimly from the poop.
"Now then, my lads," I cried, "up with this lady first. Some of you on
deck get water ready, as these people are dying of thirst."
In a few minutes, both the girl and the old man were handed over the
gangway. I cut the boat's painter adrift from the ringbolt so that we
could ship the madman without loosening his bonds, and he was hoisted
up like a bale of goods. Then four of us got out of the boat, leaving
one to drop her under the davits and hook on the falls.
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