I could, therefore, do nothing but wait.

A change came on the crowd.

It became painfully silent, none speaking save in whispers, and all watching with anxious faces either the receding heads in the water or the unfortunate boat's crew.

Hungerford showed himself a thorough sailor.

Hanging to the davit, he quietly, reassuringly, gave the order for righting the boat, virtually taking the command out of the hands of the first officer, who was trembling with nervousness.
Hungerford was right; this man's days as a sailor were over.