I had taken down a last-century edition of the poems of the
brothers Fletcher, and, having begun to read a lovely passage in "Christ's
Victory and Triumph," had gone into what I can only call an intellectual
rage, at the impudence of the editor, who had altered innumerable words and
phrases to suit the degenerate taste of his own time,--when a knock came to
the door, and Charlie entered, breathless with eagerness.
"There's the boat with the men with the swords in it, and another boat
behind them, twice as big."
I hurried out upon the road, and there, close under our windows, were the
two boats we had seen in the morning, landing their crews on the little
beach. The second boat was full of weather-beaten men, in all kinds of
attire, some in blue jerseys, some in red shirts, some in ragged coats. One
man, who looked their superior, was dressed in blue from head to foot.
"What's the matter?" I asked the officer of the coast-guard, a sedate,
thoughtful-looking man.
"Vessel foundered, sir," he answered. "Sprung a leak on Sunday morning. She
was laden with iron, and in a heavy ground swell it shifted and knocked a
hole in her.
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