A
few lascars were still cleansing the decks; others were seated on their
haunches between decks, eating curry from a calabash; a couple of
passengers were indolently munching oranges; and Stone the quartermaster
was inspecting the work lately done by the lascars. Stone gave me a
pleasant good-morning, and we walked together the length of the deck
forward. I had got about three-fourths of the length back again, when I
heard a cry from aft--a sharp call of "Man overboard!" In a moment I had
travelled the intermediate deck, and was at the stern, looking below,
where, in the swirling waters, was the head of a man. With cries of "Man
overboard!" I threw two or three buoys after the disappearing head, above
which a bare arm thrust itself. I heard the rush of feet behind me, and
in a moment Hungerford and Stone were beside me. The signal was given for
the engines to stop; stewards and lascars came running on deck in
response to Hungerford's call, and the first officer now appeared. Very
soon a crew was gathered on the after-deck, about a boat on the port
side.
Passengers by this time showed in various stages of dressing--women
wringing their hands, men gesticulating.
Pages:
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155