The loose upper or hurricane-deck parted.

Then the contents of the main saloon below, of which this deck formed the roof, commenced washing adrift, the broken water round the deck pitching and tossing about cushions and chairs, flaps of tables, and all sorts of pieces of furniture, some of which were cast up ashore near by, and others carried out by the tide to goodness knows where! The Captain and Mrs Gilmour, with Bob and Nell, and Dick and Rover, too, watched this sad ending of the steamer's career with almost as heavy hearts as if they were her owners.

Rover, indeed, took such a very deep interest in her that he assisted Hellyer and the other coastguardsmen on duty at the spot by helping them bravely in dragging out of the clutches of the waves everything that floated near enough inshore for him to jump at and seize.
"We'd better go home now," said the Captain, when the vessel separated amidships, her funnel and masts falling over into the water.

"There's nothing more to see now, poor old ship!" He spoke quite sadly, as if he had lost a friend; and the others, too, seemed equally affected by the scene, even Bob turning his back on the beach without a murmur at their going indoors so early, as he would otherwise have done; this being the young gentleman's usual plaint.
But, if depressed for the moment, on reaching "the Moorings" the thermometer of their spirits jumped suddenly to fever-heat.
Sarah, "the good Sarah," opened the door, as she usually did; but she appeared to perform the task on the present occasion with even more than her usual alacrity, while her face wore a pleased expression that had not visited it since the composition of that celebrated poem in honour of her memory! She actually beamed with delight and looked "bursting, aye, bursting with good news!" as the Captain said afterwards.
"Why, whatever is the matter, Sarah ?" asked Mrs Gilmour.

"Speak, my good girl!" She paid no attention, however, to her mistress.
"Oh, Master Bob--oh, Miss Nell!" she exclaimed.