Free Where The Flag Floats by D C Grant

bumping and was carried away by the sea. The next wave flooded over and into the opening left by the absent hatch.
    I scrambled up against the lean of the deck until I could hook my legs around the stanchion to which I was tied. I tried to shout out but my throat was raw from the seawater I had swallowed. I would drown if I was left tied to the stanchion, but the men were too busy to be concerned for me.
    “Look, sir, smoke!” Lieutenant Amphlett called. On the bridge above me, the lieutenant was pointing landwards. “A steamer, sir, making its way out of the harbour. It may be our salvation.”
    “Hands out boats!” the commodore ordered. “Mr Fielding, man the starboard cutter. Take the ships records; ensure that they are passed into safe hands and then return.”
    I knew then that the ship was in peril. When the ship first struck, I was sure that the competent sailors would soon have us afloat and moving again, heading towards the safety of the harbour but, by giving this order, I realised that the commodore believed that there was a chance the ship would sink and take the ship’s records with it – unless they were swiftly removed.
    I watched as the men loaded the cutter with the ship’s records, the commodore’s desk and a small tin case in which, I presumed, were valuable papers. But the ship was lurching badly, the men could not keep their footing for more than a few seconds at a time and I saw some of the records lost overboard before they ever made it into the small boat.
    It took a great deal of effort from the men to lower the cutter into the sea and the rest of the men gathered to watch as it left the ship. I was unable to see anything from my position at the compass and could only hope that the brave men had made it clear away.
    “Lieutenant Hill!” the commander shouted. “Launch the pinnace and go to the aid of the cutter.”
    It appeared that the cutter was already in distress.
    “And Mr Hill,” the commodore called. “Take Mr Amphlett with you for he is acquainted with this place and will know where to get assistance.”
    “Aye, sir,” the lieutenant said and I saw him approach Lieutenant Amphlett. Together with about two-dozen men, they manhandled the pinnace to the side of the ship and lowered it into the water. Both lieutenants jumped into the boat, landing in it safely in spite of the rush of water that caused it to slew about. Several other men got in too, and the last I saw of them was as they pulled away from the ship, the oarsmen straining to row against the strong push of the water.
    As the pinnace disappeared from my sight, I realised that my watch had now gone with Lieutenant Amphlett. I was trapped on the ship, and, though I shouted at the men who rushed past me to release me, I was ignored.
    If the ship sank, then I would go down with it to my death.

 
    3pm
    “Attention all hands!” the commodore shouted. “Any of the men wishing to save themselves must be ready at the starboard side of the ship to jump into the launch.”
    Another boat had been prepared. It was the big one in the centre of the ship; it had taken thirty seamen to get her over the side and now she hung by both aft and forward lines as men jumped into her.
    “Hey!” I called out again, trying to get someone’s attention, so often now that my voice was hoarse. “Someone let me loose!”
    I had been straining against my bonds since the pinnace had left and all I had managed to achieve was chafing of my hands and wrists. Blood mixed with seawater was running down my arms. I had called to the seamen as they ran past but not one had noticed. I sagged against the stanchion, cold and exhausted and certain that I was going to die.
    “Sam,” a familiar voice said as a firm hand grabbed my shoulder. “Do you live?”
    “Aye,” I said wearily. I raised my head and tried to smile at Fred.
    “Right, let’s get you off this ship.” He produced a small knife and began to saw at the sodden rope around my