Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: April 30, 2025
The big tent could not be replaced, and in order to provide shelter for the men we turned the 'Dudley Docker' upside down and wedged up the weather side with boulders. We also lashed the painter and stern-rope round the heaviest rocks we could find, so as to guard against the danger of the boat being moved by the wind.
Then the rest of us pulled out again to pilot the other boats through the channel. The 'James Caird' was too heavy to be beached directly, so after landing most of the men from the 'Dudley Docker' and the 'Stancomb Wills' I superintended the transhipment of the 'James Caird's' gear outside the reef. Then we all made the passage, and within a few minutes the three boats were aground.
We had to cut the painter of the 'James Caird' and pole her off, thus losing much valuable rope. There was no time to cast off. Then we pushed away from the floe, and all night long we lay in the open, freezing sea, the 'Dudley Docker' now ahead, the 'James Caird' astern of her, and the 'Stancomb Wills' third in the line. The boats were attached to one another by their painters.
We watched her coming with that sense of relief that the mariner feels when he crosses the harbour-bar. The tide was going out rapidly, and Worsley lightened the 'Dudley Docker' by placing some cases on an outer rock, where they were retrieved subsequently. Then he beached his boat, and with many hands at work we soon had our belongings ashore and our three craft above high-water mark.
The area of sail was too small to be of much assistance, and while the men were engaged in this work the boat drifted down towards the ice-floe, where her position was likely to be perilous. Seeing her plight, I sent the 'Dudley Docker' back for her and tied the 'James Caird' up to a piece of ice.
The 'Dudley Docker' had to tow the 'Stancomb Wills', and the delay cost us two hours of valuable daylight. When I had the three boats together again we continued down the lane, and soon saw a wider stretch of water to the west; it appeared to offer us release from the grip of the pack.
By this time we had got into a bad tide-rip, which, combined with the heavy, lumpy sea, made it almost impossible to keep the 'Dudley Docker' from swamping.
The docker looked over his shoulder agin, and then 'e put his 'and in his trouser-pocket and just showed 'em a big, fat gold locket with diamonds stuck all over it. Then he shoved it back in 'is pocket, while Sam's pal was giving 'im a pinch worse than wot the other was. "It's the one," he ses, in a whisper. "Let's 'ave another look at it," he ses to the docker.
The man with the sores ceased whimpering; the patients in the beds round about opened their eyes. The docker with the broken nose sat up in bed, and the cobbler, roused from his feverish dream, lifted himself on his elbow and whispered: "It is the Redeemer. I knew Thou wouldst come." Then there was silence. Louise stood there with eyes fixed on her violin, playing her simple best.
The docker stared at him was he going to sleep on his feet? But then he pulled himself together. "Well, comrades, are you finding the days too long?" he cried gaily. "Ach, as for that! It's the first time one's had the time to get to know one's own wife and children properly!" they replied. "But for all that it would be fine to get busy again!"
Word Of The Day
Others Looking