As her head swung round to port she stopped her screw, and then backed for
a few moments, till she had killed the most of her headway; for Captain
Sharp knew better than to drop the boat into the water while the vessel was
making sternway. In a very short space of time the six-oar craft was
pulling with all the muscle of her British tars for the scene of peril, and
not more than two cables' length astern of the second cutter of the
Guardian-Mother.

Captain Ringgold observed the boats with the most intense interest as they
approached the unfortunate men in the water. The Blanche came about again,
and her other quarter-boat was soon pulling after the first. Possibly there
was some feeling of rivalry among the crews of the boats in the good work
in which they were engaged, for they were all putting their utmost vigor
into their oars.

But no boat appeared to gain on the others, and the one which had started
first continued to maintain her advantage till the work of rescuing the
sufferers actually began. By this time the action of the waves had
separated the party, so that they were scattered over a considerable
surface of the breaking billows. Mr. Boulong could see that some of the men
in the water were nearly exhausted; for many of them had wasted their
strength in useless struggles.

The first cutter was approaching a man who was at the extremity of the
western wing of the party. He was a European of thirty years or less; and
though his head, hair, and beard were dripping with salt water, there was
something in his expression, as he bestowed a single glance upon the boat
now close to him, which commanded the respect, and even admiration, of the
first officer. He was cool and self-possessed in spite of the peril of his