"The spar cannot stand such shocks much longer," he concluded; "should it
go over the bows, some fatal blow might be given to the ship at the rate
she is moving. A man or two must be sent aloft to cut the sail from the
yards."
"The stick is bending like a willow whip," returned the mate, "and the
lower mast itself is sprung. There would be great danger in trusting a
hand in that top, while these wild squalls are breathing around us."
"You may be right," returned Wilder, with a sudden conviction of the
truth of what the other had said. "Stay you then here; if any thing
befall me, try to get the vessel into port as far north as the Capes of
Virginia, at least;--on no account attempt Hatteras, in the present
condition of----"
"What would you do, Captain Wilder?" interrupted the mate, laying his
hand on the shoulder of his commander, who had already thrown his sea-cap
on the deck, and was preparing to divest himself of some of his outer
garments.
"I go aloft to ease the mast of that topsail, without which we lose the
spar, and possibly the ship."
"I see that plain enough; but, shall it be said that another did the duty
of Edward Earing? It is your business to carry the vessel into the Capes
of Virginia, and mine to cut the topsail adrift.
Pages:
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209