1. She and all the people on the raft had been picked up by a homeward-bound vessel the day after they lost sight of their ship.

homeward-bound 的构成：homeward （方向副词，“朝着家的方向”） + bound （分词形容词，“限制某个场所方向的”），复合词作定语。

2. He ran forward a few steps and caught hold of another rock a little higher up.

catch hold of：抓住。构成：动 + 名 + of，类似表达：

catch sight of

make use of

take care of

3. I wonder if I shall ever go to sea in the Fair Nancy!

ever 用于非肯定句中。包括：否定、疑问和 if 从句（本句便是）。表示时间或频度概念，用于否定时，相当于 never。