The wind was howling in the chimney with wild fury; slates1 and tiles were being swept off the roofs of the fishermen’s huts and whirled up into the air as if they had been chips of wood; and rain swept down and along the ground in great sheets of water, or whirled madly in the air and mingled2 with the salt spray that came direct from the English Channel; while, high and loud above all other sounds, rose the loud plunging3 roar of the mighty5 sea.
“I fear there will be a call before long, Nancy, for the services of the new lifeboat,” said Captain Boyns, rising and taking down an oilcloth coat and sou’-wester, which he began to put on leisurely6; “I’ll go down to the beach and see what’s doin’ at the Cove7.”
The captain was a fine specimen8 of a British sailor. He was a massive man, of iron build, and so tall that his sou’-wester almost touched the ceiling of his low-roofed parlour. His face was eminently9 masculine, and his usual expression was a compound of sternness, gravity, and good-humour. He was about forty years of age, and, unlike the men of his class at that time, wore a short curly black beard and moustache, which, with his deeply bronzed countenance10, gave him the aspect of a foreigner.
“God help those on the sea,” said Mrs Boyns, in reply to her husband’s remark; “I’m thankful, Dan, that you are on shore this night.”
Nancy was a good-looking, lady-like woman of thirty-three or thereabouts, without anything particularly noteworthy about her. She was busy with her needle at the time we introduce her, and relapsed into silence, while her stalwart husband pulled on a pair of huge sea-boots.
“Did you hear a gun, Nancy?” cried the captain, as a terrific blast shook every timber in the cottage—“there! ain’t that it again?”
Nancy listened intently, but could hear nothing save the raging of the storm. The captain completed his toilet, and was about to leave the room when the door suddenly burst open, and a lad of about fourteen years of age sprang in.
“Father,” he cried, his eyes flashing with excitement, “there’s a brig on the sands, and they are going to launch the new lifeboat!”
“Whereaway is’t, lad?” asked Boyns, as he buttoned up his coat.
“To lee’ard of the breakwater.”
“Oh Harry11, don’t be too venturesome,” cried Mrs Boyns earnestly, as her strapping13 boy was about to follow his father out into the pelting14 storm.
Harry, who was tall and strong for his age, and very like his father in many respects, turning round with a hearty15 smile, cried, “No fear, mother,” and next instant was gone.
The scene on the beach when father and son reached it was very impressive. So furious was the gale16 that it tore up sand and gravel17 and hurled18 it against the faces of the hardy19 men who dared to brave the storm. At times there were blasts so terrible that a wild shriek20, as if of a storm-fiend, rent the air, and flakes21 of foam22 were whirled madly about. But the most awful sight of all was the seething23 of the sea as it advanced in a succession of great breaking “rollers” into the bay, and churned itself white among the rocks.
Out among these billows, scarce visible in the midst of the conflicting elements, were seen the dark hull24, shattered masts, and riven sails of a large brig, over which the waves made clear breaches25 continually.
In the little harbour of the seaport26, which was named Covelly, a number of strong men were engaged in hastily launching a new lifeboat, which had been placed at that station only three weeks before, while, clustering about the pier27, and behind every sheltered nook along the shore, were hundreds of excited spectators, not a few of whom were women.
Much earnest talk had there been among the gossips in the town when the lifeboat referred to arrived. Deep, and nautically28 learned, were the discussions that had been held as to her capabilities29, and great the longing30 for a stiffish gale in order that her powers might be fairly tested in rough weather, for in those days lifeboats were not so numerous as, happily, they now are. Many of the town’s-people had only heard of such boats; few had seen, and not one had ever had experience of them. After her arrival the weather had continued tantalisingly calm and fine until the day of the storm above referred to, when at length it changed, and a gale burst forth31 with such violence that the bravest men in the place shook their heads, and said that no boat of any kind whatever could live in such a sea.
When, however, the brig before referred to was seen to rush helplessly into the bay and to strike on the sands where the seas ran most furiously, all lent a willing hand to launch the new lifeboat into the harbour, and a few men, leaping in, pulled her across to the stairs near the entrance, where a number of seamen32 were congregated33, holding on under the lee of the parapet-wall, and gazing anxiously at the fearful scene outside.
“Impossible!” said one; “no boat could live in such a sea for half a minute.”
“The moment she shows her nose outside the breakwater she’ll capsize,” observed another.
“We’ll have to risk it, anyhow,” remarked a stout34 young fellow, “for I see men in the foreshrouds of the wreck35, and I, for one, won’t stand by and see them lost while we’ve got a lifeboat by us. Why, wot’s the use o’ callin’ it a lifeboat if it can’t do more than other boats?”
As he spoke36 there came an unusually furious gust37 which sent a wave right over the pier, and well-nigh swept away one or two of them. The argument of the storm was more powerful than that of the young sailor—no one responded to his appeal, and when the boat came alongside the stairs, none moved to enter her except himself.
“That’s right, Bob Gaston,” cried one of the four men who had jumped into the boat when she was launched, “I know’d you would be the first.”
“And I won’t be the last either,” said young Gaston, looking back at the men on the pier with a smile.
“Right, lad!” cried Captain Boyns, who came up at the instant and leaped into the boat. “Come, lads, we want four more hands—no, no, Harry,” he added, pushing back his son; “your arms are not yet strong enough; come lads, we’ve no time to lose.”
As he spoke, a faint cry was heard coming from the wreck, and it was seen that one of the masts had gone by the board, carrying, it was feared, several poor fellows along with it. Instantly there was a rush to the lifeboat! All thought of personal danger appeared to have been banished38 from the minds of the fishermen when the cry of distress39 broke on their ears. The boat was overmanned, and old Jacobs, the coxswain, had to order several of them to go ashore40 again. In another minute they were at the mouth of the harbour, and the men paused an instant as if to gather strength for the mortal struggle before quitting the shelter of the breakwater, and facing the fury of wind and waves.
“Give way, lads! give way!” shouted old Jacobs, as he stood up in the stern-sheets and grasped the steering41 oar4.
The men bent42 to the oars43 with all their might, and the boat leaped out into the boiling sea. This was not one of those splendid boats which now line the shores of the United Kingdom; nevertheless, it was a noble craft—one of the good, stable, insubmergible and self-emptying kind which were known as the Greathead lifeboats, and which for many years did good service on our coasts. It sat on the raging waters like a swan, and although the seas broke over it again and again, it rose out of the water buoyantly, and, with the brine pouring from its sides, kept end-on to the seas, surmounting44 them or dashing right through them, while her gallant45 crew strained every muscle and slowly urged her on towards the wreck.
At first the men on shore gazed at her in breathless anxiety, expecting every moment to see her overturned and their comrades left to perish in the waves; but when they saw her reappear from each overwhelming billow, their hearts rose with a rebound46, and loud prolonged huzzas cheered the lifeboat on her course. They became silent again, however, when distance and the intervening haze47 of spray and rain rendered her motions indistinct, and their feelings of anxiety became more and more intense as they saw her draw nearer and nearer to the wreck.
At last they reached it, but no one on the pier could tell with what success their efforts were attended. Through the blinding spray they saw her faintly, now rising on the crest48 of a huge wave, then overwhelmed by tons of water. At last she appeared to get close under the stern of the brig, and was lost to view.
“They’re all gone,” said a fisherman on the pier, as he wiped the salt water off his face; “I know’d that no boat that ever wos built could live in that sea.”
“Ye don’t know much yet, Bill, ’bout anything a’most,” replied an old man near him. “Why, I’ve see’d boats in the East, not much better than two planks49, as could go through a worse surf than that.”
“May be so,” retorted Bill, “but I know—hallo! is that her coming off?”
“That’s her,” cried several voices—“all right, my hearties50.”
“Not so sure o’ that,” observed another of the excited band of men who watched every motion of the little craft intently,—“there—why—I do believe there are more in her now than went out in her, what think ’ee, Dick?”
Dick did not reply, for by that time the boat, having got clear of the wreck, was making for the shore, and the observers were all too intent in using their eyes to make use of their tongues. Coming as she did before the wind, the progress of the lifeboat was very different from what it had been when she set out. In a few minutes she became distinctly visible, careering on the crest of the waves towards the harbour mouth, and then it was ascertained51 beyond doubt that some at least, if not all, of the crew of the brig had been rescued. A short sharp Hurrah52! burst from the men on the outlook when this became certain, but they relapsed into deep silence again, for the return of the boat was more critical than its departure had been. There is much more danger in running before a heavy sea than in pulling against it. Every roaring billow that came into the bay near the Cove like a green wall broke in thunder on the sands before reaching the wreck, and as it continued its furious career towards the beach it seemed to gather fresh strength, so that the steersman of the lifeboat had to keep her stern carefully towards it to prevent her from turning broadside on—or, as it is nautically expressed, broaching53 to. Had she done so, the death of all on board would have been almost inevitable54. Knowing this, the men on the pier gazed with breathless anxiety as each wave roared under the boat’s stern, lifted it up until it appeared perpendicular55; carried it forward a few yards with fearful velocity56, and then let it slip back into the trough of the sea.
But the boat was admirably managed, and it was seen, as she drew near, that the steering oar was held in the firm grip of Captain Boyns. On it came before the gale with lightning speed towards the harbour mouth; and here a new danger had to be faced, for the entrance was narrow, and the seas were sweeping57 not into but athwart it, thereby58 rendering59 the danger of being dashed against the pier-end very great indeed.
“Missed it!” burst from several mouths as the boat flew round the head of the breakwater and was overwhelmed by a heavy sea which rendered her for one moment unmanageable, but almost as soon as filled she was again emptied through the discharging tubes in her floor.
“No fear of father missing it,” exclaimed young Harry Boyns, with a proud look and flashing eye as he saw the stalwart form of the captain standing60 firm in the midst of the foam with his breast pressed hard against the steering oar.
“Back your starboard oars! Hold water hard!” shouted several voices.
“She’s round! hurrah!” cried Harry, as the boat almost leaped out of the foam and sprang into the comparatively smooth water at the harbour mouth. The rowers gave vent12 to a short shout of triumph, and several worn, exhausted61 seamen in the bottom of the boat were seen to wave their hands feebly. At the same time, Captain Boyns shouted in a deep loud voice—“All saved, thank God!” as they swept towards the land.
Then did there arise from the hundreds of people assembled on and near the pier a ringing cheer, the like of which had never been heard before in Covelly. Again and again it was repeated while the lifeboat shot up on the beach, and was fairly dragged out of the sea, high and dry, by many eager hands that were immediately afterwards extended to assist the saved crew of the brig to land.
“Are all saved, father?” asked Harry Boyns, who was first at the side of the boat.
“Ay, lad, every one. Fifteen all told, includin’ a woman and a little girl. Lend a hand to get the poor things up to our house, Harry,” said the captain, lifting the apparently62 inanimate form of a young girl over the side as he spoke; “she ain’t dead—only benumbed a little with the cold.”
Many hands were stretched out, but Harry thrust all others aside, and, receiving the light form of the child in his strong arms, bore her off to his father’s cottage, leaving his comrades to attend to the wants of the others.
“Oh Harry!” exclaimed Mrs Boyns, when her son burst into the house, “is your father safe?”
“Ay, safe and well,” he cried. “Look sharp, mother—get hot blankets and things ready, for here’s a little girl almost dead with cold. She has just been rescued from a wreck—saved by the new lifeboat!”
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1
slates
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| （旧时学生用以写字的）石板( slate的名词复数 )； 板岩； 石板瓦； 石板色 | |
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2
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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3
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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5
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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13
strapping
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| adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式 | |
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pelting
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| 微不足道的，无价值的，盛怒的 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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18
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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19
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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21
flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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22
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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24
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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25
breaches
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| 破坏( breach的名词复数 )； 破裂； 缺口； 违背 | |
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seaport
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| n.海港，港口，港市 | |
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pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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nautically
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| 在航海方面 | |
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capabilities
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| n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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33
congregated
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| （使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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36
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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37
gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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38
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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40
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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41
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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42
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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43
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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44
surmounting
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| 战胜( surmount的现在分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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45
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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46
rebound
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| v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回 | |
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47
haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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48
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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49
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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50
hearties
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| 亲切的( hearty的名词复数 )； 热诚的； 健壮的； 精神饱满的 | |
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51
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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53
broaching
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| n.拉削；推削；铰孔；扩孔v.谈起( broach的现在分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
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54
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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55
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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56
velocity
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| n.速度，速率 | |
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57
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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58
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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59
rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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60
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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61
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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62
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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