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The four men from the life…saving service dropped aboard。 The five
then went over the tug from stem to stern； tossing aside all
movables； and lashing tight all essentials。 From the pilot…house
Captain Marsh distributed life preservers。 Harvey declined his。
〃Whaf…for I want dat？〃 he inquired。 〃Lots of good he gwine do me
down here！〃
Then all hatches were battened down。 Captain Marsh reached up to
shake the hand which Orde； stooping； offered him。
〃I'll try to bring her back all right； sir；〃 said he。
〃To hell with the tug！〃 cried Orde； impatient at this insistence on
the mere property aspect。 〃Bring yourself back。〃
Captain Marsh deliberately lit another cigar and entered the pilot…
house with the other men。
〃Cast off！〃 he cried； and the silent crowd heard clearly the single
sharp bell ringing for attention； and then the 〃jangler〃 that called
for full speed ahead。 Awed； they watched the tiny sturdy craft move
out into the stream and point to the fury of the open lake。
〃Brave chaps！ Brave chaps！〃 said Dr。 McMullen to Carroll as they
turned away。 The physician drew his tall slender figure to its
height。 〃Brave chaps； every one of them。 But； do you know； to my
mind； the bravest of them all are that niggerand his fireman
nailed down in the hold where they can't see nor know what's going
on； and ifif〃 the good doctor blew his nose vigorously five or
six times〃 well； it's just like a rat in a hole。〃 He shook his
head vigorously and looked out to sea。 〃I read last evening； sir；〃
said he to Bradford； 〃in a blasted fool medical journal I take； that
the race is degenerating。 Good God！〃
The tug had rounded the end of the pier。 The first of her thousand
enemies； sweeping in from the open； had struck her fair。 A great
sheet of white water； slantthe riverman； 〃but whatever it is； it's all right
as long as Buck Marsh is at the wheel。〃
〃There； she's turned now；〃 Mr。 Smith interposed。
Beneath the trail of black smoke she had shifted direction。 And
then with startling swiftness the SPRITE darted out of the horizon
into full view。 For the first time the spectators realised the size
and weight of the seas。 Not even the sullen pounding to pieces of
the vessels on the bar had so impressed them as the sight of the tug
coasting with railroad speed down the rush of a comber like a
child's toy…boat in the surf。 One moment the whole of her deck was
visible as she was borne with the wave； the next her bow alone
showed high as the back suction caught her and dragged her from the
crest into the hollow。 A sea rose behind。 Nothing of the tug was
to be seen。 It seemed that no power or skill could prevent her
feeling overwhelmed。 Yet somehow always she staggered out of the
gulf until she caught the force of the billow and was again cast
forward like a chip。
Maybe they ain't catchin' p'ticular hell at that wheel to hold her
from yawing！〃 muttered the tug captain to his neighbour； who
happened to be Mr。 Duncan； the minister。
Almost before Carroll had time to see that the little craft was
coming in； she had arrived at the outer line of breakers。 Here the
combers； dragged by the bar underneath； crested； curled over； and
fell with a roar； just as in milder weather the surf breaks on the
beach。 When the SPRITE rushed at this outer line of white…water； a
woman in the crowd screamed。
But at the edge of destruction the SPRITE came to a shuddering stop。
Her powerful propellers had been set to the reverse。 They could not
hold her against the forward fling of the water； but what she lost
thus she regained on the seaward slopes of the waves and in their
hollows。 Thus she hovered on the edge of the breakers； awaiting her
chance。
As long as the seas rolled in steadily； and nothing broke； she was
safe。 But if one of the waves should happen to crest and break； as
many of them did； the weight of water catching the tug on her flat；
broad stern deck would indubitably bury her。 The situation was
awful in its extreme simplicity。 Would Captain Marsh see his
opportunity before the law of chances would bring along the wave
that would overwhelm him？
A realisation of the crisis came to the crowd on the beach。 At once
the terrible strain of suspense tugged at their souls。 Each
conducted himself according to his nature。 The hardy men of the
river and the woods set their teeth until the cheek muscles turned
white； and blasphemed softly and steadily。 Two or three of the
townsmen walked up and down the space of a dozen feet。 One； the
woman who had screamed； prayed aloud in short hysterical sentences。
〃O God！ Save them； O Lord！ O Lord！〃
Orde stood on top of a half…buried log； his hat in his hand； his
entire being concentrated on the manoeuvre being executed。 Only
Newmark apparently remained as calm as ever； leaning against an
upright timber； his arms folded； and an unlighted cigar as usual
between his lips。
Methodically every few moments he removed his eyeglasses and wiped
the lenses free of spray。
Suddenly； without warning； occurred one of those inexplicable lulls
that interpose often amid the wildest uproars。 For the briefest
instant other sounds than the roar of the wind and surf were
permitted the multitude on the beach。 They heard the grinding of
timbers from the stricken ships； and the draining away of waters。
And distinctly they heard the faint； far tinkle of the jangler
calling again for 〃full speed ahead。〃
Between two waves the SPRITE darted forward directly for the nearest
of the wrecks。 Straight as an arrow's flight she held until from
the crowd went up a groan。
〃She'll collide！〃 some one put it into words。
But at the latest moment the tug swerved； raced past； and turned on
a long diagonal across the end of the bar toward the piers。
Captain Marsh had chosen his moment with exactitude。 To the utmost
he had taken advantage of the brief lull of jumbled seas after the
〃three largest waves〃 had swept by。 Yet in shallow water and with
the strong inshore set； even that lull was all too short。 The
SPRITE was staggered by the buffets of the smaller breakers； her
speed was checked； her stern was dragged around。 For an instant it
seemed that the back suction would hold her in its grip。 She tore
herself from the grasp of the current。 Enveloped in a blinding hail
of spray she struggled desperately to extricate herself from the
maelstrom in which she was involved before the resumption of the
larger seas should roll her over and over to destruction。
Already these larger seas were racing in from the open。 To Carroll；
watching breathless and wide…eyed in that strange passive and
receptive state peculiar to imaginative natures； they seemed alive。
And the SPRITE； too； appeared to be； not a fabric and a mechanism
controlled by men； but a sentient cr