West, bracing himself to the sudden plunging, managed to reach the rail.

He drew back, sick at heart at the sight of the waves lapping the side almost on a level with the sloping deck on which he stood.

The sight brought home to him as never before the drear deadly peril in which they were.

It was already a matter of minutes; any second indeed that labouring hulk might take the fatal plunge.

The knowledge brought back all his soldier instincts of command, his rough insistence.