But, do you know, to my
mind, the bravest of them all are that nigger--and his fireman--
nailed down in the hold where they can't see nor know what's going
on, and if--if--" the good doctor blew his nose vigorously five or
six times--"well, it's just like a rat in a hole." He shook his
head vigorously and looked out to sea. "I read last evening, sir,"
said he to Bradford, "in a blasted fool medical journal I take, that
the race is degenerating. Good God!"
The tug had rounded the end of the pier. The first of her thousand
enemies, sweeping in from the open, had struck her fair. A great
sheet of white water, slanting back and up, shot with terrific
impact against the house and beyond. For an instant the little
craft seemed buried; but almost immediately the gleam of her black
hull showed her plunging forward dauntlessly.
"That's nothin'!" said the tug captain who had first spoken. "Wait
'til she gets outside!" The watchers streamed down from the pier
for a better view. Carroll and Miss Heinzman followed. They saw
the staunch little craft drive into three big seas, each of which
appeared to bury her completely, save for her upper works. She
managed, however, to keep her headway.
"She can stand that, all right," said one of the life-saving crew
who had been watching her critically.
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