"AWAY DINGHY. 



199 



" Look alive now, boys — away dinghy there." " Lead 

 that painter well forward — ^you." " That's right." — 

 " Lower away fore and aft : Easy there — keep her 

 level." "Now then, both ends together." And with 

 a rumble and creak of blocks down goes the boat, and 

 lands with a scrunching crash in the sea. Smack comes 

 a wave and breaks in a shower of spray over her bows. 



" Sharp now — unhook them falls — after end first." 



" Right there ! — dinghy in the water, sir ! " Yes, 

 by Jove ! and lively, too, from all appearances ! 



" Now then, lads — over the side — no chance for gang- 

 ways — tumble up there and jump in as she comes up — 

 sharp's the word." Up she comes, and down she sinks 

 again in the heavy swell. " Look out there ! — keep 

 her off — keep Tier off,'" shouts the first officer as she surges 

 up against the side — " Careful now." Over the rail 

 jump the men — one, two, three, four, dropping in like 

 cats. " Any more ? — all aboard — hold on — one more 

 coming — tumble up then — jump for it. Bill — well done 

 — ^let go that painter there — all gone, sir — ^Now then ! 

 give her a good shove off forward and give way together — 

 that's the style, lads — steady — steady there " — ^for the 

 starboard men threaten to pull her broadside on — " Now 

 then, give way." And we are clear and well away at 

 last. 



Things are pretty lively, as we wave a goodbye to those 

 watching us on board, and the moment we get well away 

 from the lee of the ship they are worse still. 



Now the boat climbs up a regular comber, as it comes 

 seething and tearing along, with a tumbling head of white 

 milky froth ; and then down we go again on the other 

 side, as it hisses harmlessly beneath us, and suiges on 

 its way. 



Smack 1 — bang ! comes another, and drenches the men 

 in the bows ; but it is chiefly spray, and our four stout 

 oars go pulling away in the good old English fashion, while 

 Gillam, the second mate, keeps her carefully head to sea 

 and cries encouragement from the stern. We reach for the 



