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from yawing！〃 muttered the tug captain to his neighbour； who
happened to be Mr。 Duncan； the minister。
Almost before Carroll had time to see that the little craft was
coming in； she had arrived at the outer line of breakers。 Here the
combers； dragged by the bar underneath； crested； curled over； and
fell with a roar； just as in milder weather the surf breaks on the
beach。 When the SPRITE rushed at this outer line of white…water； a
woman in the crowd screamed。
But at the edge of destruction the SPRITE came to a shuddering stop。
Her powerful propellers had been set to the reverse。 They could not
hold her against the forward fling of the water； but what she lost
thus she regained on the seaward slopes of the waves and in their
hollows。 Thus she hovered on the edge of the breakers； awaiting her
chance。
As long as the seas rolled in steadily； and nothing broke； she was
safe。 But if one of the waves should happen to crest and break； as
many of them did； the weight of water catching the tug on her flat；
broad stern deck would indubitably bury her。 The situation was
awful in its extreme simplicity。 Would Captain Marsh see his
opportunity before the law of chances would bring along the wave
that would overwhelm him？
A realisation of the crisis came to the crowd on the beach。 At once
the terrible strain of suspense tugged at their souls。 Each
conducted himself according to his nature。 The hardy men of the
river and the woods set their teeth until the cheek muscles turned
white； and blasphemed softly and steadily。 Two or three of the
townsmen walked up and down the space of a dozen feet。 One； the
woman who had screamed； prayed aloud in short hysterical sentences。
〃O God！ Save them； O Lord！ O Lord！〃
Orde stood on top of a half…buried log； his hat in his hand； his
entire being concentrated on the manoeuvre being executed。 Only
Newmark apparently remained as calm as ever； leaning against an
upright timber； his arms folded； and an unlighted cigar as usual
between his lips。
Methodically every few moments he removed his eyeglasses and wiped
the lenses free of spray。
Suddenly； without warning； occurred one of those inexplicable lulls
that interpose often amid the wildest uproars。 For the briefest
instant other sounds than the roar of the wind and surf were
permitted the multitude on the beach。 They heard the grinding of
timbers from the stricken ships； and the draining away of waters。
And distinctly they heard the faint； far tinkle of the jangler
calling again for 〃full speed ahead。〃
Between two waves the SPRITE darted forward directly for the nearest
of the wrecks。 Straight as an arrow's flight she held until from
the crowd went up a groan。
〃She'll collide！〃 some one put it into words。
But at the latest moment the tug swerved； raced past； and turned on
a long diagonal across the end of the bar toward the piers。
Captain Marsh had chosen his moment with exactitude。 To the utmost
he had taken advantage of the brief lull of jumbled seas after the
〃three largest waves〃 had swept by。 Yet in shallow water and with
the strong inshore set； even that lull was all too short。 The
SPRITE was staggered by the buffets of the smaller breakers； her
speed was checked； her stern was dragged around。 For an instant it
seemed that the back suction would hold her in its grip。 She tore
herself from the grasp of the current。 Enveloped in a blinding hail
of spray she struggled desperately to extricate herself from the
maelstrom in which she was involved before the resumption of the
larger seas should roll her over and over to destruction。
Already these larger seas were racing in from the open。 To Carroll；
watching breathless and wide…eyed in that strange passive and
receptive state peculiar to imaginative natures； they seemed alive。
And the SPRITE； too； appeared to be； not a fabric and a mechanism
controlled by men； but a sentient creature struggling gallantly on
her own volition。
Far out in the lake against the tumbling horizon she saw heave up
for a second the shoulder of a mighty wave。 And instinctively she
perceived this wave as a deadly enemy of the little tug； and saw it
bending all its great energies to hurrying in on time to catch the
victim before it could escape。 To this wave she gave all her
attention； watching for it after it had sunk momentarily below its
fellows； recognising it instantly as it rose again。 The spasms of
dismay and relief among the crowd about her she did not share at
all。 The crises they indicated did not exist for her。 Until the
wave came in； Carroll knew； the SPRITE； no matter how battered and
tossed； would be safe。 Her whole being was concentrated in a
continually shifting calculation of the respective distances between
the tug and the piers； the tug and the relentlessly advancing wave。
〃Oh； go！〃 she exhorted the SPRITE under her breath。
Then the crowd； too； caught with its slower perceptions the import
of the wave。 Carroll felt the electric thrill of apprehension
shiver through it。 Huge and towering； green and flecked with foam
the wave came on now calmly and deliberately as though sure。 The
SPRITE was off the end of the pier when the wave lifted her； just in
the position her enemy would have selected to crush her life out
against the cribs。 Slowly the tug rose against its shoulder； was
lifted onward； poised； and then with a swift forward thrust the wave
broke； smothering the pier and lighthouse beneath tons of water。
A low； agonised wail broke from the crowd。 And thenand thenover
beyond the pier down which the wave； broken and spent but formidable
still； was ripping its way； they saw gliding a battered black stack
from which still poured defiantly clouds of gray smoke。
For ten seconds the spectators could not believe their eyes。 They
had distinctly seen the SPRITE caught between a resistless wall of
water and the pier； where she should have been crushed like the
proverbial egg…shell。 Yet there she wasor her ghost。
Then a great cheer rose up against the wind。 The crowd went crazy。
Mere acquaintances hugged each other and danced around and around
through the heavy sands。 Several women had hysterics。 The riverman
next to Mr。 Duncan opened his mouth and swore so picturesquely that；
as he afterward told his chum； 〃I must've been plumb inspired for
the occasion。〃 Yet it never entered Mr。 Duncan's ministerial headCAIRTjess a
little ne'vous。 All I
had to do was to feed her slabs and l
to reprove the blasphemy。 Orde jumped down from his half…buried log
and clapped his hat on his head。 Newmark did not alter his attitude
nor his expression。
The SPRITE was safe。 For the few moments before she glided the
length of the long pier to stiller water this fact sufficed。
〃I wonder if she got the line aboard；〃 speculated the tug…boat
captain at last。
The crowd surged over to the piers again。 Below them rose and fell
the SPRITE。 All the fancy scroll…work of her upper works； the
cornice of her deck house； the light rigging of her cabin had
disappeared； leaving raw and splintered wood to mark their
attachments。 The tall smokestack was bent awry； but its supports
had held； which was fortunate since otherwise the fires would have
been drowned out。 At the moment； Captain Marsh was bending over
examining a bad break in the overhangthe only material damage the
tug had sustained。
At sight of him the crowd set up a yell。 He paid no attention。 One
of the life…saving men tossed a mooring line ashore。 It was seized
by a dozen men。 Then for the first time somebody noticed that
although the tug had come to a standstill； her screw was still
turning slowly over and over； holding her against the erratic strong
jerking of a slender rope that ran through her stern chocks and into
the water。
〃He got it aboard！〃 yelled the man； pointing。
Another cheer broke out。 The life…saving crew leaped to the deck。
They were immediately followed by a crowd of enthusiasts eager to
congratulate and question。 But Captain Marsh would have none of
them。
〃Get off my tug！〃 he shouted。 〃Do you want to swamp her？ What do
you suppose we put that line aboard for？ Fun？ Get busy and use it！
Rescue that crew now！〃
Abashed； the enthusiasts scrambled back。 The life…saving crew took
charge。 It was necessary to pass the line around the end of the
pier and back to the beach。 This was a dangerous job； and one
requiring considerable power and ingenuity； for the strain on the
line imposed by the waters was terrific； and the breaking seas
rendered work on the piers extremely hazardous。 However； the life…
saving captain took charge confidently enough。 His crew began to
struggle out the pier； while volunteers； under hi