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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 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