Isles of the Sea by Oliver Optic

"Help, help! Save me! " cried Miss Rodwood in the water, at some distance from Tom Speers.

As the girl had voluntarily thrown herself into the sea, Tom could not understand why she called for assistance. He had struck the water only a few seconds after she sprang overboard, and she could not be at any great distance from him. He was a strong swimmer, and the sea was very smooth. He heard the cry of the girl repeated as he came up with the life-buoy he had thrown overboard. Placing it before him, he swam with all the speed he could make, and reached the sufferer when she was quite exhausted by her efforts. She could swim a little herself, and had more confidence in the water than most persons who had never tried to do so.

"Don't be afraid! " cried Tom, when he saw in the gloom of the night that she was still struggling to keep afloat.

In a moment more he reached her, and placed her hands upon the life-buoy, which was buoyant enough to support both of them.

"You are perfectly safe now," said Tom, as he assured himself that she had a good hold upon the buoy.

She was too much exhausted to make any reply; and, whatever she had intended in the beginning, it was clear enough to Tom that she had no present desire to end her young life.

Capt. O'Hara had hardly entered the engine-room, when he heard the energetic cry of Tom Speers; and he realized in an instant that the worst his friend feared had come to pass.

"Man overboard! Stop her, Alexander! " he shouted to the chief engineer, who was watching the motions of the machinery.

The captain told the engineer to pass the word for Mr. Frisbone. He returned to the main deck; but Raymond, the second officer, had heard the startling cry. Already the third cutter was swung out, and all the watch on deck were in the boat. The officers and seamen had been thoroughly trained to this sort of service, and there had been no more delay than if they had been on board of the Tritonia. The crew lowered themselves into the water, as there was no difficulty in doing in a smooth sea. The falls were cast off, and the cutter shoved away from the steamer. The four oars were shipped, and the crew pulled with all their muscle.

"Pull directly astern of the vessel! " shouted O'Hara, who had gone upon the hurricane-deck, where he could see all that was done.

"Ay, ay, sir! " replied the quartermaster, who, as the highest in rank, had taken the place of the coxswain; for the boat-service of the steamer was not yet organized, and it was not the practice in the vessels of the squadron to wait for the regular officers and crew of the boats in any emergency.

"Call all hands, Mr. Raymond," said the captain to the officer of the deck.

As there was not another seaman left on the deck of the Ville d'Angers, Raymond performed this duty himself.

"Man overboard! All hands on deck! " cried Raymond, as he passed into the cabin, and proceeded to open the doors of all the state-rooms occupied by the crew.

"What is the matter? " asked Mrs. Frisbone, coming out of her room.

"Man overboard, madam," replied the second officer.

"Man overboard! Who is it? " asked the terrified lady.

"I'm sure I don't know who it is, madam."

As it was a "man overboard," it did not occur to her that the unfortunate person could be her sister; but, fearing that the invalid might be alarmed at the unusual noise, she went to her room, and found she was not there.

"Where is my sister? " asked Mrs. Frisbone, very much startled by the discovery she had made.