"Ay, ay, sir!"
"How does she head?"
"Southeast by east, sir."
"Head her southeast and run her on shore," said the captain. Nearer, nearer, yet nearer she approached the shore. Again the captain cried out, "John Maynard!"
The response came feebly this time, "Ay, ay, sir!"
"Can you hold on five minutes longer, John?" he said.
"By God's help, I will!"
The old man's hair was scorched from the scalp; one hand was disabled; his knee upon the stanchion, his teeth set, his other hand upon the wheel, he stood firm as a rock. He beached the ship; every man, woman, and child was saved, as John Maynard dropped, and his spirit took its flight to God.