When he served the man there he had not failed to observe what the room contained, and now he snatched from the wall a huge greatcoat, a belt containing a brace of pistols in a holster with ammunition, and a small sword.

He did not know why he took the sword, but it was probably some trick of the fancy and he buckled it on with the rest.

Then he returned to the deck, where he could barely hold his footing, the schooner had heeled so far over, and so powerful was the wind and the driving of the spray.

One of the boats had been launched under the command of the second mate, but she was overturned almost instantly, and all on board her were lost.

Robert was just in time to see a head bob once or twice on the surface of the sea, and then disappear.
A second boat commanded by the first mate was lowered and seven or eight men managed to get into it, rowing with all their might toward an opening that appeared in the white line of foam.