A few days later, when the storm had passed and the sea became calm again, Captain Hawes rowed the children out to the rocky point to see the wreck. Here the stranded schooner lay firmly wedged among the rocks. Her masts were gone, her back was broken, and her bow splintered in pieces, rigging and tatters of sails hung about in confusion. And the good craft, which such a short time before had been sailing so proudly, was now but a worthless hulk.
Such was often the end of a good many stout vessels, the Captain told the children; this was the chance of the sea. And then, once started, he told them long and thrilling tales of his different voyages and adventures, and the wrecks he had known, and been in.
[a]THE RIGGERS]
This life by the sea made an endless appeal to the children's imagination, and offered a never-failing amount of wonderful things to see and learn about.
"Now," said Captain Hawes one day, "we'll go over to the wharf and see the riggers fitting up the new ship we saw launched."
You may be sure the children were willing. Captain Hawes, who knew everybody and was welcome everywhere, took them on board and showed them everything, from the bow to the stern. And all about the ship was so neat and well made it was a constant marvel to the children. High up in the rigging men were swarming, "reeving" on "stays" and "shrouds," and no end of "running" rigging, doing the most wonderful circus stunts in the most matter-of-fact way, far up on dizzy heights. The children fairly held their breath to watch them.
