Someone overboard, I think." People were crowding to the rail at the extreme forward end of the ship.
Someone with authority was trying to push them back, using the old-fashioned ship-board language to aid him.

Chester drew near enough not to be in the way, but so that he could observe what was going on.

By leaning well over the rail, he could see what appeared to be two persons clinging to the anchor, which hung on the ship's side, about half-way down to the water.

One was a dark figure, the other appeared in the moonlight to be a woman dressed in white.

Other ships-men now rushed up.
"Clear way here! Where's the rope?
Hang on, my man; we'll soon get you"-- this down the side of the ship.