This made my imagination run wild. Turning to 'Uncle' again, I said, "Wouldn't it be fun if the
storm broke when we have lunch? Then the tables, with all the food on them, would run away
from us. And the chairs, with us sitting on them, ould be a merry-go-round."
Everyone round the table stared at me in horror.
I thought to myself, 'Oh, these adults, they've no sense of adventure. How dull they are!'
The storm didn't break, but in the evening a strong wind started blowing. The ship rocked to
and fro, rocking and rolling to the music of the wind. Huge waves were dashing against it. Even
though the deck was slippery, I was running around. That's when I noticed Uncle leaning over
the railings. I ran up to him, thinking he too, was enjoying the experience. "Good morning,
Uncle, isn't it lovely?" I asked him.
But he wasn't well at all. He was retching over the rails and looked rather blue about the mouth.
I felt sorry for him. "Can I be of any help? Shall call the doctor?' I asked him.
He couldn't reply, but only held up his hand.
As another bout of retching shook him he leaned over the railings. At the same time a huge wave
lashed the ship. It lurched violently and the man tumbled over the railings into the wild sea. For
a second I stood rooted to the spot. Then I ran like someone possessed, shouting, "Help! Help!
Man overboard! Save him!" I must have made a lot of noise. I heard footsteps hurrying even that
early in the morning. Tears streaming down my face and shouting
incoherently, I ran full pelt into an officer. "What's the matter? Why are you making so
much noise?" he asked in a stern voice, I was surprised to see it was the captain.
"Oh Sir!" I blurted out in relief. "A man fell into the sea. Please save him."
"Where?" he asked, immediately on the alert. "There," I said pointing a finger.
He did not wait for more details but ran at once to a room full of officers. "Man overboard,"
he cried. "Stop ship. Drop anchor. Quick!" His
instructions were immediately obeyed. The captain then raced to the upper deck. I kept trailing
behind him. "Lower the life-boats and crew into the sea towards the helm," he said. "There is a
man overboard." Here again the men quickly obeyed him.
People started crowding the deck. "What's
happening?" somebody asked me.
Word soon went round. Everyone was tense. Only an occasional, "There he is!" could be heard.
Someone asked, "Who is he?" Another replied, "Don't know."
Meanwhile two life-boats moved towards the man. I stood close to the captain. In his anxiety,
he gripped my shoulder tightly and I winced. "You're hurting me Sir," I protested.
