ray_.

Sailors of that time were very quick and accurate in discerning the
identity of a vessel by the cut of her sails, the length of her masts
and yards, and the way they were stayed; even if she were hull down
they could tell by this alone. Several of the disabled vessel's sails
were in ribbons. They had evidently been blown out of the gaskets. She
was drifting under the close-reefed main topsail, and the fore one was
in shreds. The fore and main topgallant braces were broken, and the
yards were swinging about to the toss of the ship. The remains of a
boat hung to the stern davits. The long boat was flattened on the
hatches, and the crew hustled together on the quarterdeck gesticulating
to the other vessel (a smack) to make haste. At last all seemed to be
ready, and the smack was headed before the maddened seas, and flew on
the crest of a wave, which seemed to carry her on to destruction. Now
she was almost lost sight of in the trough, then she was seen to dance
on the summit of a roller, until the supreme moment came to bring her
under the lee of the ill-fated brig. There was then witnessed a most
sensational piece of bravery and superb seamanship. She was rounded to
with the fore staysail sheet to windward; the small boat was launched
out of the lee gangway; lines with life-buoys attached were drifted
towards the boat, and in less than half an hour the crew was taken off
and put aboard the Yarmouth fisherman. Succour came none too soon, as
in less than an hour the brig's mainmast went by the board. She cocked
her stern up and went down head first. The smack reached close across
the stern of the _Blake_, and the shipwrecked crew exchanged salutes
with her. Her speaking-trumpet was used in trying to communicate that
she was making a lot of water and to report having spoken her. This was
also signalled by the commercial code in case they should not have
heard. Good-bye was said by dipping the ensign, and as the rescuer
vanished into the dark, an unspeakable sadness crept over the _Blake's_
crew.

They knew their peril was great, and the physical agony they were
suffering was well-nigh unbearable. They predicted that neither would
diminish. But for the inherent manliness and heroism that have always
been a striking characteristic of the British sailor, these men would
have been quite justified in asking the skipper of the smack to take
them aboard. They were worn out with incessant labour, and the dividing
line betwe