CHAP. XVI. 
RESCUE OF SHIPWRECKED SAILORS. 
449 
the captain who had perished in the wreck. After remarking 
that we were not far from the place where the wreck occurred, 
Captain Dundas went on deck. In a few moments I heard 
the cry “ A wreck! a wreck! ” and hastening to the poop, saw 
on the larboard bow a small flag or signal of blue cloth, dis¬ 
tinct among the tops of the waves, and about two miles off. 
In a few minutes more I discerned a sort of raft, with two 
figures, a white man and a man of colour, sitting upon it, up 
to the waist in the sea. 
The flag of the “ England” had been hoisted—symbol of 
help and deliverance—to signal to the castaways that they 
were seen, and the ship’s course was altered. Meanwhile 
one of the boats was lowered, and, manned by five stout, willing 
hands, was pushed off towards the raft. While the oars 
rattled with each stroke, and the light boat seemed to 
spring over the waves, with our tall, stout second officer, Mr. 
Peters, standing with the steer-oar in the stern, every eye on 
board was stretched towards the same point; the sailors leaning 
over from the forecastle and forerigging; the officers and 
passengers straining over the bulwarks of the poop; ladies 
with their children all gazing with the most intense interest, 
as our boat approached the raft. No one moved; not a word 
was uttered; even breathing seemed difficult; but when the 
first man, and then the second—stiff, benumbed, and swollen 
with the water—had been safely lifted into the boat, the 
pent-up feeling found utterance in the almost simultaneous 
exclamation, (6 They are saved!” which was heard from stem 
to stern along the side of our ship. Some persons near me 
wept, others seemed ready to faint under emotions of sympathy 
and joy. 
Our boat was soon alongside, and, swollen, bruised, and 
bleeding, the men were helped over the ship’s side into the 
cabin. Not wishing to add to the pressing crowd, I remained 
on deck. A few moments afterwards I heard the captain call, 
