One of the boat crew ran past Jan, carrying a rope.  Other men were fastening queer looking rings about the bodies of women and children, while still more men were lowering a little boat into the water.  But as soon as it touched the waves, it was turned on end and smashed like an egg-shell against the side of the ship.  Jan, standing with his legs braced firmly, saw the frightened women and children huddled together.  Most of them were very quiet, but some were crying.  A few were kneeling on the wet deck, and though their eyes were shut, Jan knew they were not asleep, for their lips were moving as if they were talking to some one whom he could not see.

The shore did not seem very far away, and Jan saw men pushing a little boat into the water.  They leaped into it quickly and grabbed up oars.

“Thank God!” said the old poundmaster to a man who stood beside him and Jan.  “The Life Guards will save the women and children!”

“There is no Life Saving Station here,” Jan heard a woman’s voice reply.  He looked up and saw the pretty lady beside his old master.  Her face was very white and she held her baby tightly in her arms, while she stared at the place where the tiny boat was being shoved into the sea by men who stood waist-deep in the rushing water.  Then the boat shot high on a wave and started toward the ship.  Those on the shore joined in the cheers that sounded on the stranded ship; but even as they cheered, a bigger wave snatched at the boat and overturned it, dumping all the men into the sea.  The little boat was dashed on the beach, but those who had been rowing it bobbed about in the water until helped to land.

A group of men, who had been talking with a man wearing a cap trimmed with gold braid, now carried a rope to the side of the ship and tossed it swiftly toward land.  Men on the shore were trying to launch another boat, and every one on the ship leaned forward watching them.  The waves carried the rope some distance forward, and then tossed it back against the ship’s side as though playing with it, just as a cat plays with a mouse.  Tangled and twisted, the rope rose on the crest of a high wave, then dropped from sight, only to bob up once more, and all the time drifting further from land.

“The vessel will be driftwood in half an hour more!  She is breaking amidships!” the man beside Jan was speaking again to the poundmaster.  “No boat can live in such a sea and no man can swim it.”

Captain Smith looked down at Jan.  “It doesn’t count so much with us, Jan,” he said, “but it’s the women and children.  Maybe you can help them.  Come!”

The dog started at the sound of command and followed his master across the water-washed deck to the group of ship’s officers who were gathered around the captain of the boat.  All were talking earnestly when old Captain Smith and Jan pushed between them.

“Maybe Jan can take the rope to shore,” said the poundmaster, while his hand rested on Jan’s wet fur.  “He’s a splendid swimmer and isn’t afraid of the water.”