"I'm coming," mumbled the storekeeper, and held up his arms that Milt
Baker might fasten the belt about his body.
Afterward Milt was fond of declaring that the look on Cap'n Amazon's
face at that moment prophesied the tragedy that was to follow. "He
seen death facin' him--an' he warn't afraid," Milt said reverently.
"In with you, boys!" shouted the skipper. "And hook your belts--every
man of you! If she overturns again I want to be able to count noses
when we come right side up. Now!"
A shuddering cry from the women, in which Louise found herself joining;
a "Yo! heave-ho!" from the men who launched the craft. Then the
lifeboat was in the surf again, her crew laboring like the sons of
Hercules they were to keep her head to the wind and to the breakers.
The storekeeper was no weakling; rowing was an accomplishment he had
excelled in from childhood. It was the single activity in any way
connected with the sea that he had learned and maintained.
At first he kept his eyes shut--tight shut. A strange thrill went
through him, however.
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