[CHAPTER XXVII]
ANOTHER GALE
THAT night a terrific gale blew; and, from the howling of the blast and the thunder of waves upon the shore, few of the inhabitants of Old Maxham could get much sleep.
Many lay wide awake, picturing to themselves the dismal state of sailors on their heaving craft; some sat up, refusing to undress; and a few spent the night upon the shore, watching the distant white gleam, which told of the line of breakers foaming on the reef.
With the coming of early dawn a water-logged ship could be seen in the offing, drifting towards the reef. Her masts were gone, and several men might be detected, holding on as best they might. Nothing could check the steady drift of that disabled vessel towards the rocks; and to be once on them in such a sea would mean a speedy end. All then would be up with the crew.
There was an instant rush for lifebelts on the part of the lifeboat crew, which consisted of double the number required. Not a man among them had any thought of holding back. Not one among them but would gladly have gone to the work of rescue.
As quickly as might be the boat was down at the water's edge, and then the launching had to take place—no light matter in such a surf. The storm from which Mildred had been saved, almost as by a miracle, had not been so heavy as this gale.
No time was lost, for indeed there was none to lose. Everything depended on speed and promptitude. The crew, ready for action with their lifebelts on, hauled with all their might and main at a strong rope which was attached to an anchor buoyed some little way from shore. And while they thus pulled, dozens of men on the beach pushed hard with a long spar at the stern of the boat. Among them might be soon the Vicar, as eager as any, and regardless of possible injury to his weakened arm. Jack too was there, of course.
A great wave came towering on, and instantly the lifeboat was full of water; but like a living creature, the gallant craft shook herself clear and rode bravely out amidst the breakers.
Now it became a race for life between the lifeboat and the drifting vessel. If the ship reached the rocks before the lifeboat could get to her, small hope remained for any one on board. Had it not been for the presence of the lifeboat, nothing could have been done. No ordinary boat could have lived, could even have been launched, in such a sea as this.