"We must first haul in all the gear trailing overboard, my lads, and
then get up jury-masts," he shouted out, hurrying along the deck to
examine the state of things forward.
Having got the spars and rigging on board, we commenced unbending the
sails and unreefing and coiling away the ropes. As we got the yards
free we stowed them amidships, that we might use those of them which
were most suitable for jury-masts. The wind had in the meantime been
increasing, and the sea was getting up. All we could do was to keep the
vessel before it, while we laboured hard to rig a jury-mast forward that
we might, as soon as possible, get sail on the brig to steady her. She
was now rolling fearfully, and it was with difficulty even that we could
keep our feet. I looked out more than once in the direction where I had
seen the prahus, fearing that should they discover our present
defenceless condition they might attack us, for although we might fight
our guns it would be at a great disadvantage.
The gale blew harder and harder. I had not heard for what port the
first mate intended to steer, though I of course knew that he would
endeavour to make one as soon as possible, either Sarawak or Singapore;
but as the gale was at present blowing us away from both of them until
we could get up jury-masts and haul our wind it would be impossible to
reach either the one or the other. There were numerous dangers in the
way which would at all events have to be encountered.
We were moving sluggishly on amid the fast rising seas, when I saw an
object in the water, still at a considerable distance ahead. Now it
appeared on the summit of a sea, now it sank into a hollow. It looked
so much like the wreck of a vessel that I reported it to the first mate.
"Maybe some unfortunate craft capsized by the squall, a fate which might
have been ours had not the masts given way," he observed. "We'll
endeavour to keep close to her in case any of the crew may have escaped
and be clinging to the wreck."
As we got nearer I jumped up on the forecastle, when I saw that the
object was a vessel of some sort, but not an European craft. She was a
prahu, probably one of the fleet we had before seen. In a short time I
perceived that there was some one on board clinging to the stern, which
was the highest part out of water.
I at once told the first mate. He and the second mate held a short
consultation as to the best means of rescuing the person--pirate as he
might be, we could not leave him to perish.
Some spars had been lashed to the stump of the foremast on which a royal
had been set, and this enabled us to have the brig somewhat under
command. Ropes were got ready to heave to the man. The boatswain, who
took the helm, steered the vessel so as to pass close to the wreck
without the danger of running her down. Immediately the brig's side
touched her a rope was hove to the man, who was standing up ready to
catch it.
"Haul away!" he shouted, as he clutched it firmly, and several willing
hands being ready to haul him in. The next instant he was on board the
brig, while the wreck, bounding off from us, dropped aft, about, it
seemed, to plunge beneath the foaming seas.
"Why, my lad, who are you?" asked the first mate, who had assisted him
on board.
"I am an Englishman," was the answer of the stranger, but he in vain
tried to say more.
"Though you are pretty well sun-burnt, you have an Englishman's face
sure enough, though you seem to have lost the use of your tongue."
"Long, long time no talk English," replied the man, who seemed to
understand pretty clearly what was said to him. We had too much to do,
however, to spend time in asking him questions.
Before night we had some spars lashed to the stump of the main-mast,
which enabled us to set a little after sail and bring the vessel to.
It was of the greatest importance not to run further eastward. Happily
the wind shifted, and getting the vessel's head round we steered for
Singapore. The gale, too, began to abate, and the sea to go down, so
that we were able to carry on our work with less difficulty than had
before been the case. The dangers in our course were numerous, but we
hoped, by constant vigilance, to avoid them.