Mr.
Holmes beckoned with his lame hand to John, while he clung to his daughter with his right.

A vivid flash of lightning lighted up the scene, and John saw that Blanche was very pale, but calm.

Never had he seen a more beautiful picture than this pretty maiden with her face turned in resignation to the storm.

He forgot his own danger, forgot wife and children at home in his unselfish eagerness to snatch the unfortunate girl from the impending danger.
It was no easy matter for John Stevens to break away from his hold on the main-mast and make his way to the capstan.

At every roll of the ship and every surge of the waves, unfortunate passengers or sailors were washed overboard and plunged into the boiling, seething waves which thundered about them.