The blazing light of the torch was
presently waved as a warning signal to those on the ship.
The meaning of this was understood too late, for before the vessel
could turn she was driven swiftly upon the North Gaulton rocks, and
there smashed like a bottle of glass.
Then the sail of the Curlew was lowered, and the boat taken as
close as possible to the wrecked ship. The cries of the people on
board were heard in the tempest, but there was little hope of
saving life. Yet the pilot crew were undaunted by any risks. Four
of the men were at the oars; Mansie was at the bow with his flaming
torch, and my father at the tiller. They got within hail of the
ship, and after an infinite amount of trouble succeeded in saving
four precious lives. These four persons were a seaman, a gentleman
passenger--who was picked up suffering from a wound he had received
in the head when the vessel struck--Mrs. Kinlay, and my
schoolfellow, Tom Kinlay.
When they were brought into the boat, Mrs. Kinlay entreated my
father not to leave the wreck until he had saved her husband and
her infant girl. But after much searching of the water the chance
of saving any more lives was so small, and the danger to the Curlew
so great, that the boat was brought to the beach at Inganess Geo,
where its suffering passengers were landed and carried up to the
neighbouring farm of Crua Breck.
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