Nearly all were watching the rescue boat, though a few looked over the
sides of the ship as if they expected to find bodies floating about. They
saw sharks, instead, and a trail of blood, and this sent them away
sickened from the bulwarks. Then they turned their attention again upon
the rescue party. It was impossible not to note what a fine figure
Hungerford made, as he stood erect in the bow, his hand over his eyes,
searching the water. Presently we saw him stop the boat, and something
was drawn in. He signalled the ship. He had found one man--but dead or
alive? The boat was rapidly rowed back to the ship, Hungerford making
efforts for resuscitation. Arrived at the vessel, the body was passed up
to me.
It was that of Stone the quartermaster. I worked to bring back life, but
it was of no avail. A minute after, a man in the yards signalled that he
saw another. It was not a hundred yards away, and was floating near the
surface. It was a strange sight, for the water was a vivid green, and the
man wore garments of white and scarlet, and looked a part of some strange
mosaic: as one has seen astonishing figures set in balls of solid glass.
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