You'll have plenty
of work presently. After a gale like this there are always scores of
accidents that can't be treated by rough-and-tumble methods. A skipper
may manage simple things; we need educated skill. The men are beginning
to know Blair's boat, and I wish we had just twelve like her. You see
we've got at a good many of the men with our ordinary vessels, and that
has worked marvels, but all we've done is only a drop in the sea. We
want you fellows, and plenty of you. Hullo! What cheer, my lads! what
cheer!"
A smack lumbered past with her mainsail gone, and her gear in a sadly
tangled condition.
"Can you send us help, sir? We'm got a chap cruel bad hurt."
"We've got a doctor on board; he shall come."
All round, the rolling sea was speckled with tiny boats that careered
from hill to hollow, and hollow to hill, while the two cool rowers
snatched the water with sharp dexterous strokes. After the wild ordeal
of the past two days these fishers quietly turned to and began ferrying
the fish taken in the last haul. While the boat was being got ready,
Ferrier gave Mrs. Walton and Miss Dearsley an arm each, and did his best
to convey them along the rearing deck. The girl said--
"Is that the steam-carrier I have heard of? How fearful! It makes me
want to shut my eyes."
To Marion Dearsley's unaccustomed sight the lurching of the carrier was
indeed awful, and she might well wonder, as I once did, how any boat
ever got away safely.
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