"It's no use, Jack," he moaned; "I can't go out with this arm. We will need the six oars in such a sea."
Jack paused. "Captain," he said, "they will launch the boat." And catching a heavy oil-skin coat off a peg he rushed down to the beach. The men stood waiting, looking out to sea. Without saying a word he gripped the boat, and when the right breaker came he gruffly shouted, "Now, men," as he had often heard the Captain, and with a strong heave and all together they rushed the boat out into the surf and leaped aboard.
Jack seized the steering-oar, and before the next wave could swamp them they got a grip on the water and successfully mounted it. It was a remarkable launch in such a sea, and promised success for their other efforts.
They were going right into the teeth of the gale, and the crew rose to the work. It was hard work, though. The wind beat them back, tearing at their frail craft with fierce tugs, dashing the frozen spray over them in sheets. To reach the wreck Jack had to keep off the wind a little, and time and time again the boat's head would swing around, and his heart would jump as the monstrous waves threatened to swamp her.
His hands were numb with cold and his face frozen with spray. The crew bent over their oars. They knew nothing of the change of Captains, and when they heard the gruff commands, they may have wondered at the boyishness of the tones, but never dreamed who was steering the boat.
They were nearing the ship, and with admirable skill, in keeping with his efforts from the start, Jack got up in the lee of the wreck, directly under the shrouds to which the group was clinging. Slowly but surely, one by one, the men scrambled down the rigging and, when a favorable opportunity presented itself, leaped aboard.
There were five men, and as the last came aboard Jack did a neat bit of steering that even the brave crew of the life-boat noticed and cheered. They left the wreck, and with their backs to the mad wind, they bounded over the roaring waves towards the shore.
Jack kept the boat directly in front of the storm, and as they neared the surf his command rang out, "Steady!" And then a gigantic wave raised them on its crest and, with a swirl and a roar, ran them upon the beach. In a trice they ran the boat out of reach of the surf.
In the snug warmth of the station the crew started to cheer the dripping Captain in his oil-skins; but when he took off the broad-brimmed hat that hid his face and they saw Jack, they were mute. One of them rushed to their Captain's bunk, and when he saw the helpless figure of the real Captain lying there, he pointed to it and then to Jack.
Hubert Earl.