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enveloped it。 The wind snatched both noise and vapour away almost
as soon as they were born。 The dart with its trailer of line rose
on a long graceful curve。 The reel sang。 Every member of the crowd
unconsciously leaned forward in attention。 But the resistance of
the wind and the line early made itself felt。 Slower and slower
hummed the reel。 There came a time when the missile seemed to
hesitate； then fairly to stand in equilibrium。 Finally； in an
increasingly abrupt curve； it descended into the sea。 By a good
three hundred yards the shot had failed to carry the line over the
vessels。
〃There's Mr。 Bradford；〃 said Carroll； waving her hand。 〃I wish he'd
come and tell us something about it。〃
The banjo…playing village Brummell saw the signal and came； his face
grave。
〃Couldn't they get the lifeboats out to them？〃 asked Carroll as he
approached。
〃You see that one；〃 said Bradford； pointing。 〃Well； the other's in
kindling wood farther up the beach。〃
〃Anybody drowned？〃 asked Mina quickly。
〃No； we got 'em out。 Mr。 Cam's shoulder is broken。〃 He glanced
down at himself comically； and the girls for the first time noticed
that beneath the heavy overcoat his garments were dripping。
〃But surely they'll never get a line over with the mortar！〃 said
Carroll。 〃That last shot fell so far short！〃
〃They know it。 They've shot a dozen times。 Might as well do
something。〃
〃I should think；〃 said Mina； 〃that they'd shoot from the end of the
pier。 They'd be ever so much nearer。〃
〃Tried it；〃 replied Bradford succintly。 〃Nearly lost the whole
business。〃
Nobody said anything for some time； but all looked helplessly to
where the vesselsfrom this elevation insignificant among the
tumbling waterswere pounding to pieces。
At this moment from the river a trail of black smoke became visible
over the point of sand…hill that ran down to the pier。 A smokestack
darted into view； slowed down； and came to rest well inside the
river…channel。 There it rose and fell regularly under the influence
of the swell that swung in from the lake。 The crowd uttered a
cheer； and streamed in the direction of the smokestack。
〃Come and see what's up；〃 suggested Bradford。
He hitched Prince to a log sticking up at an angle from the sand；
and led the way to the pier。
There they had difficulty in getting close enough to see； but
Bradford； preceding the two women； succeeded by patience and
diplomacy in forcing a way。 The SPRITE was lying close under the
pier； the top of her pilot…house just about level with the feet of
the people watching her。 She rose and fell with the restless
waters。 Fat rope…yarn bumpers interposed between her sides and the
piling。 The pilot…house was empty； but Harvey； the negro engineer；
leaned； elbows crossed against the sill of his little square door；
smoking his pipe。
〃I wouldn't go out there for a million dollars！〃 cried a man
excitedly to Carroll and Bradford。 〃Nothing on earth could live in
that sea！ Nothing！ I've run a tug myself in my time； and I know
what I'm talking about！〃
〃What are they going to do？〃 asked Carroll。
〃Haven't you heard！〃 cried the other； turning to her。 〃Where you
been？ This is one of Orde's tugs； and she's going to try to get a
line to them vessels。 But I wouldn't〃
Bradford did not wait for him to finish。 He turned abruptly； and
with an air of authority brushed toward the tug； followed closely by
Carroll and Mina。 At the edge of the pier was the tug's captain；
Marsh； listening to earnest expostulation by a half…dozen of the
leading men of the town； among whom were both Newmark and Orde。
As the three came within earshot Captain Marsh spit forth the stump
of cigar he had been chewing。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said he crisply； 〃that isn't the question。 I think I
can do it； and I'm entirely willing to take all personal risks。 The
thing is hazardous and it's Mr。 Orde's tug。 It's for him to say
whether he wants to risk her。〃
〃Good Lord； man； what's the tug in a case like this！〃 cried Orde；
who was standing near。 Carroll looked at him proudly； but she did
not attempt to make her presence known。
〃I thought so；〃 replied Captain Marsh。 〃So it's settled。 I'll take
her out； if I can get a crew。 Harvey； step up here！〃
The engineer slowly hoisted his long figure through the breast…high
doorway； dragged his legs under him； then with extraordinary agility
swung to the pier； his teeth shining like ivory in his black face。
〃Yas； suh！〃 said he。
〃Harvey；〃 said Captain Marsh briskly； 〃we'reing back and up； shot with terrific
impact against the house and beyond。 For an instant the little
craft seemed buried； but almost immediately the gleam of her black
hull showed her plunging forward dauntlessly。
〃That's nothin'！〃 said the tug captain who had first spoken。 〃Wait
'til she gets outside！〃 The watchers streamed down from the pier
for a better view。 Carroll and Miss Heinzman followed。 They saw
the staunch little craft drive into three big seas； each of which
appeared to bury her completely； save for her upper works。 She
managed； however； to keep her headway。
〃She can stand that； all right；〃 said one of the life…saving crew
who had been watching her critically。 〃The trouble will come when
she drops down to the vessels。〃
In spite of the heavy smashing of head…on seas the SPRITE held her
course straight out。
〃Where's she going； anyway？〃 marvelled little Mr。 Smith； the
stationer。 〃She's away beyond the wrecks already。〃
〃Probably Marsh has found the seas heavier than he thought and is
afraid to turn her broadside；〃 guessed his companion。
〃Afraid； hell！〃 snorted a riverman who overheard。
Nevertheless the SPRITE was now so distant that the loom of the
great seas on the horizon swallowed her from view； save when she
rose on the crest of some mighty billow。
〃Well； what is he doing 'way out there then？〃 challenged Mr。 Smith's
friend with some asperity。
〃Do'no；〃 replied going to try to get a
line aboard those vessels out there。 It's dangerous。 You don't
have to go if you don't want to。 Will you go？〃
Harvey removed his cap and scratched his wool。 The grin faded from
his good…natured countenance。
〃You…all goin'； suh？〃 he asked。
〃Of course。〃
〃I reckon I'll done haif to go； too；〃 said Harvey simply。 Without
further word he swung lightly back to the uneasy craft below him；
and began to toss the slabs from the deck into the hold。
〃I want a man with me at the wheel； two to handle the lines； and one
to fire for Harvey；〃 said Captain Marsh to the crowd in general。
〃That's our job；〃 announced the life…saving captain。
〃Well； come on then。 No use in delay；〃 said Captain Marsh。
The four men from the life…saving service dropped aboard。 The five
then went ove