Пятнадцатилетний капитан / Dick Sand. A Captain at Fifteen. Уровень 2

Dick fixed his gaze intently for a moment, and then shouted out lustily,

“Look out in front! There is something afloat!”

Chapter III

A Rescue

At the sound of Dick’s voice all the crew, in a moment, rushed to the deck, and Captain Hull hurried from his cabin to the bows. Mrs. Weldon, Nan, and even Cousin Benedict leaned over the starboard taffrails. Negoro did not leave his cabin, and was the only person on board who did not share the general excitement.

They saw a floating object about three miles ahead.

One of the sailors declared that it looked to him like a raft. Cousin Benedict asserted that it was a huge sea-monster; but the captain soon said that it was the hull of a vessel.

In spite, however, of the convictions of the captain, Cousin Benedict was talking about some huge cetacean.

“It is certainly dead, then,” remarked Mrs. Weldon; “it is perfectly motionless.”

“Oh, that’s because it is asleep,” said Benedict.

But it was indeed the hull of a capsized ship.

A quarter of an hour later and the “Pilgrim” was within half a mile of the deserted vessel. It was impossible to stand upon her deck. A few ends of cordage were all that remained of its shrouds. On the starboard flank was an enormous hole.

“The only wonder,” said the captain; “is that the vessel did not sink immediately.”

“Oh, the poor crew!” exclaimed Mrs Weldon.

“Most probably,” replied the captain, “they used the boats.

”

“Is it not possible,” asked Mrs Weldon, “that anybody may still survive on board?”

“Hardly likely, madam.”

Dick Sand suddenly exclaimed,

“Hark! I hear a dog!”

Every one listened attentively. The dog was barking indeed. Was some unfortunate dog imprisoned beneath the hatchways? It was impossible at present to determine the precise truth.

Mrs Weldon pleaded,

“If it is only a dog, captain, let us save it.”

“Oh, yes, yes, mamma, we must save the dog!” cried little Jack; “I will go and get a bit of sugar for it.

”

“A bit of sugar, my child, will not be much for a starved dog.”

“Then it will have my soup,” said the boy.

The vessels were now scarcely three hundred feet apart; the barking was more and more distinct, and presently a great dog barked more desperately than ever.

“Howick,” said Captain Hull, calling to the boatswain, “lower the small boat.