Black water showed between the dock and the ship.

In a moment more it would be beyond reach, and that thought decided Harrigan.

He made a few paces back, noted the aperture in the rail of the ship where the gangplank was being drawn in, then ran at full speed and leaped high in the air.
The three sailors at the rail shouted their astonishment as Harrigan struck the edge of the gangplank, reeled, and then pitched forward to his knees.

He rose and shook himself like a cat that has dropped from a high fence to the ground.
"What're you ?" "I'm the extra hand." And Harrigan ran up the steps to the bridge.

There he found McTee with the first and second mates.
"McTee," he said, "I came on your ship by chance an' saw you.