Knowing the independence of these captains and the futility of
complaints, I trembled lest the steamer should put farther to sea,
and determined that no effort of mine should be spared to prevent it.
Richard slept or pretended to sleep, and so did some of the others; but
I managed adroitly to be awkward with the boat-hook, and occasionally to
prick their shins. I urged the boat _walas_ on with perpetual promises
of _bakshish_. Everybody except myself was behaving with oriental calm,
and leaving it to Kismet. It was of no use doing anything to Richard,
so I pitched into the Secretary, who really had been most kind.
"Can't you shout 'Mails?'" I cried to him, as we got nearer. "They
might hear you. You can shout loud enough when nobody wants to hear
you."
At last, after an hour of anxiety, we reached the ship; but heavy seas
kept washing us away from the ladder. No one had the energy to hold on
to the rope, or hold the boat-hook to keep us close to her, so at last
I did it myself, Richard laughing all the while at their supineness, and
at my making myself so officious and energetic. But it was absolutely
necessary. An English sailor threw me the rope. "Thanks," I cried, as
I took advantage of an enormous wave to spring on to the ladder; "I am
the only man in the boat to-night." All came on board with us, and we
had a parting stirrup-cup, in which they drank my health as "the only
man in the boat.
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