Listening Comprehension

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We first became aware that something unusual was happening when one of the ship`s officers came up to the chief engineer, who was sitting at our table, and spoke to him in a law voice. The Chief Engineer at once stood up and with a brief excuse, which told us nothing, left the dining-room. At first we thought that there had been an accident or that a fire had broken out on board ship, but soon the word went round that a man had been seen floating in the sea. Then we noticed that the ship had slowed down and was beginning to turn round, with a rather violent motion. Some of the passengers did not wait to finish their meal, but at once rushed up on the deck. Others crowded round portholes, making it impossible for us to eat in comfort. There was such confusion in the dining-room that we decided to join those who had gone up on the deck.

There we learnt that one of the crew had seen a man in the sea some distance from the ship. He had informed the captain, who at once ordered the ship to be turned round. We were now only two hundred yards or so from the man, and a lifeboat had already been lowered into the sea. In it there were four sailors, who were sitting ready at the oars, an officer and the ship`s doctor. The officer shouted an order and the sailors began to row away from the ship. By looking in the same direction as the boat was going, we were able to make out the position of the man in the water. He was clinging to a large piece of wood.

At last the lifeboat reached the man and two of the sailors pulled him on board. This was not easy, for the sea was rather rough. The lifeboat was raised out of water and the rescued man was helped out on to the deck. He was led off to the ship`s hospital. As he passed along the deck, everyone cheered loudly.