The Pine-tree coast . ,disheartened at nndmg whistling-buoy, sciioodic point. that all they could do would barely keep the leak from gjtining on them, the crew, to a man, refusedto work at the pumps longer. In vain the captain commanded, implored themto return to their duty as the one hope of saving all their lives. Too panic-struck to care for either orders or entreaties, the men sullenly refused to his authority was at an end if the crew continued in this state of fatuity,yet fully realizing the straits to which he and they would be reduced in a fewhours more at farthest, the cap
The Pine-tree coast . ,disheartened at nndmg whistling-buoy, sciioodic point. that all they could do would barely keep the leak from gjtining on them, the crew, to a man, refusedto work at the pumps longer. In vain the captain commanded, implored themto return to their duty as the one hope of saving all their lives. Too panic-struck to care for either orders or entreaties, the men sullenly refused to his authority was at an end if the crew continued in this state of fatuity,yet fully realizing the straits to which he and they would be reduced in a fewhours more at farthest, the captain put his trumpet to his lips and gave theunheard-of order to unship the brakes and draw the boxes from the men mechanically and wonderingly obeyed; but their astonisliment wasturned to dismay when they saw the captain fling over the ships side, into thesea, the implements on which he had but just now asserted that all their livesdepended. Now, my men, shouted the aroused commander, you refuse to pump, do. 328 THE PINE-TREE COAST. you ?; So be it, then; we will all go down together. By oue of those suddenrevulsions of feeling which u lofty mind sonuitimes inspires, the desire for lifereturned as soon as the last chance of saving it seemed disappearing beforetheir eyes; and though they had just flatly refused to work the pumps, thecrew, with one voice, now besought the captain to give his orders, declaringthat they would go down, if they must, like men. All hands were; instantly setto work bailing. No words, said the captain afterward, can begin to de-scribe the way in which the men worked to keep down the leak. By super-human exertions, the sinking ship was kept afloat until the gale abated, whenthe intrepid master had the inexpressible satisfaction of taking his ship, withher valuable cargo, safely into port. (^ur humane societies award medals for the saving of a single life. Whyshould there not be a national decoration for the heroism that preserves,a hun-dred li
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublisherbostonesteslauriat
