on across a mountain sea
that was very vague in the moonlight. And then I saw it! The
_Elsinore's_ stern was flung skyward, and across that cold ocean I saw
land--black rocks and snow-covered slopes and crags. And toward this
land the _Elsinore_, now almost before the wind, was driving.

From the 'midship-house came the snarls of the mate and the cries of the
sailors. They were pulling and hauling for very life. Then came Mr.
Pike, across the poop, leaping with incredible swiftness, sending his
snarl before him.

"Ease that wheel there! What the hell you gawkin' at? Steady her as I
tell you. That's all you got to do!"

From for'ard came a cry, and I knew Mr. Mellaire was on top of the
for'ard-house and managing the fore-yards.

"Now!"--from Mr. Pike. "More spokes! Steady! Steady! And be ready to
check her!"

He bounded away along the poop again, shouting for men for the mizzen-
braces. And the men appeared, some of his watch, others of the second
mate's watch, routed from sleep--men coatless, and hatless, and bootless;
men ghastly-faced with fear but eager for once to spring to the orders of
the man who knew and could save their miserable lives from miserable
death. Yes--and I noted the delicate-handed cook, and Yatsuda, the sail-
maker, pulling with his one unparalysed hand. It was all hands to save
ship, and all hands knew it. Even Sundry Buyers, who had drifted aft in
his stupidity instead of being for'ard with his own officer, forebore to
stare about and to press his abdomen. For the nonce he pulled like a
youngling of twenty.

The moon covered again, and it was in darkness that the _Elsinore_
rounded up on the wind on the starboard tack. This, in her case, under
lower-topsails only, meant that she lay eight points from the wind, or,
in land terms, at right angles to the wind.

Mr. Pike was splendid, marvellous. Even as the _Elsinore_ was rounding
to on the wind, while the head-yards were still being braced, and even as
he was watching the ship's behaviour and the wheel, in between his
commands to Tom Spink of "A spoke! A spoke or two! Another! Steady!
Hold her! Ease her!" he was ordering the men aloft to loose sail. I had
thought, the manoeuvre of wearing achieved, that we were saved, but this
setting of all three upper-topsails unconvinced me.

The moon remained hidden, and to leeward nothing could be seen. As each
sail was set, the _Elsinore_ was pressed farther and farther over,