"Women first--women to the rail!" Dan's cry was taken up by the
officers. Silent figures in trailing garments moved as they were bid.
From the port quarter a gruff voice sounded.
"Ready, men--ease away." Came the creak of tackle, the thud of iron
upon steel--then a silence--then a rattle of oars in thole-pins--then a
clear hail from the darkness: "All's well, Captain Merrithew!"
Another boat clattered down the steel sides and cleared safely, and
still another. The last boat was filling with the last of the crew.
"Everybody accounted for?" Dan's shout as he rushed down from the
curling bridge brought Mr. Howland up with a sudden fear. He had taken
his daughter to the starboard boat only to find it full, and had sent
her across to the third boat, while he superintended the adjustment of
a wedged block. This done, he had hurried to the starboard, only to
find the third boat overboard and well away. He had assumed that she
was all right. But a cold rush of doubt assailed him.
"Virginia, Virginia--are you all right?" he called in tones of agony.
"I saw her at the third boat," said the first officer. "You must look
alive, Mr. Howland--we'll have to lower directly the Captain comes.
The deck's going now."
The ship-owner heard these words with a sigh of relief and stepped into
the boat without further ado.
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