In a moment the women and children who were waiting to take to the boat, in which Augusta and the two sea-men were already, were swept aside, and a determined effort was made to rush it, headed by a great Irishman, the same who had called out.
Augusta saw Mr.Tombey, Lord Holmhurst, who had come up, and the officer lift their pistols, which exploded almost simultaneously, and the Irishman and another man pitched forward on to their hands and knees.
"Never mind the pistols, lads," shouted a voice; "as well be shot as drown.

There isn't room for half of us in the boats; come on!" And a second fearful rush was made, which bore the three gentlemen, firing as they went, right up against the nettings.
"Bill," halloaed the man who was holding on to the foremost tackle, "lower away; we shall be rushed and swamped!" Bill obeyed with heart and soul, and down sank the boat below the level of the upper decks, just as the mob was getting the mastery.

In five seconds more they were hanging close over the water, and whilst they were in this position a man leapt at the boat from the bulwarks.

He struck on the thwarts, rolled off into the water, and was no more seen.

A lady, the wife of a Colonial Judge, threw her child; Augusta tried to catch it, but missed, and the boy sank and was lost.