It was, indeed, a dangerous undertaking. The seas were now rising up like great hills and again falling into deep valleys. It seemed impossible for a boat to live.
"We ca'ant do no good," said the first speaker.
"But they've signalled for help," said the second, "and I ca'ant stand that!"
As he spoke we heard a sound like a crack of a musket, which faintly reached us above the roar of wind and wave.
"We'll man the biggest boat somehow," said my father. "Come here, everyone; who will go with Roger and me?"
To the honour of the brave Cornish boys, a crew was ready in a minute.
We jumped into the boat and soon were out in the boiling surf.
"Hold your oars firmly," cried my father, "now, then, pull while you may, the storm is rising every minute."
Bravely those noble lads strained and tugged; but it was terrible work. We were tossed about as though the boat in which we sat were a chip or a bit of cork.
For a minute no word was spoken. Every man breathed hard, and laboured with all his strength, while my father watched, grasping the rudder in his hand. Time after time I thought we should have been thrown into the sea, but luckily we caught no side winds.