Soon the poor Brenda was a floating furnace , and the order to ` Take to the boats ! ' came for all . The women first , of course , and it was fortunate that , being a merchantman , there were no more passengers on board , so there was no panic , and one after the other the boats pushed off . That in which the women were lingered near , for the brave captain would be the last to leave his ship . Emil stayed by him till ordered away , and reluctantly obeyed ; but it was well for him he went , for just as he had regained the boat , rocking far below , half hidden by a cloud of smoke , a mast , undermined by the fire now raging in the bowels of the ship , fell with a crash , knocking Captain Hardy overboard . The boat soon reached him as he floated out from the wreck , and Emil sprung into the sea to rescue him , for he was wounded and senseless . This accident made it necessary for the young man to take command , and he at once ordered the men to pull for their lives , as an explosion might occur at any moment . The other boats were out of danger and all lingered to watch the splendid yet awesome spectacle of the burning ship alone on the wide sea , reddening the night and casting a lurid glare upon the water , where floated the frail boats filled with pale faces , all turned for a last look at the fated Brenda , slowly settling to her watery grave . No one saw the end , however , for the gale soon swept the watchers far away and separated them , some never to meet again till the sea gives up its dead . The boat whose fortunes we must follow was alone when dawn came up , showing these survivors all the dangers of their situation . Food and water had been put in , and such provision for comfort and safety as time allowed ; but it was evident that with a badly wounded man , two women , and seven sailors , their supply would not last long , and help was sorely needed . Their only hope was in meeting a ship , although the gale , which had raged all night , had blown them out of their course . To this hope all clung , and wiled away the weary hours , watching the horizon and cheering one another with prophecies of speedy rescue . Second mate Hoffmann was very brave and helpful , though his unexpected responsibility weighed heavily on his shoulders ; for the captain 's state seemed desperate , the poor wife 's grief wrung his heart , and the blind confidence of the young girl in his power to save them made him feel that no sign of doubt or fear must lessen it . The men did their part readily now , but Emil knew that if starvation and despair made brutes of them , his task might be a terrible one . So he clutched his courage with both hands , kept up a manly front , and spoke so cheerily of their good chances , that all instinctively turned to him for guidance and support . The first day and night passed in comparative comfort , but when the third came , things looked dark and hope began to fail . The wounded man was delirious , the wife worn out with anxiety and suspense , the girl weak for want of food , having put away half her biscuit for her mother , and given her share of water to wet her father 's feverish lips . The sailors ceased rowing and sat grimly waiting , openly reproaching their leader for not following their advice , others demanding more food , all waxing dangerous as privation and pain brought out the animal instincts lurking in them . Emil did his best , but mortal man was helpless there , and he could only turn his haggard face from the pitiless sky , that dropped no rain for their thirst , to the boundless sea where no sail appeared to gladden their longing eyes .
All XXXXX he tried to cheer and comfort them , while hunger gnawed , thirst parched , and growing fear lay heavy at his heart .
Brenda Emil Hardy Hoffmann crash day explosion hours privation starvation