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Updated: May 22, 2025
The tide continued to fall, and we felt the sloop begin to list. We played on until the chess men began to fall over. The list increased, and we went on deck. Bow-line and stern-line were drawn taut. As we looked the boat listed still farther with an abrupt jerk. The lines were now very taut. "As soon as her belly touches the bottom she will stop," I said.
Unloosing the stern-line, which alone held her, the boat was borne on by the rapid stream. The helm the occupant handled with a masterly skill, and in a moment the little bark swept through the half-hid opening into the broad river. Placing the helm amid-ships, the man went forward, and, pulling the proper line, brought the masts to their upright position.
Cloudesley sounded with a boat-hook along the outside. "Seven feet of water," he announced. "The bank is almost up and down. The first thing that touches will be her mast when she turns bottom up." An ominous, minute snapping noise came from the stern-line. Even as we looked, we saw a strand fray and part. Then we jumped.
He scrambled over the machinery to the stern. The stern-line was the same cut square and clean. If further evidence was needed, it was furnished by the severed portion, which was still tied around a bush. There was no more sleep for Bruce that night. Bewildered, dumfounded by the discovery, he rolled himself in a "tarp" and laid down on the boat's platform.
Now came the mate, hurrying aft, and said, close to the captain's ear, in a low, agitated voice: "Prepare for the worst, sir we have sprung a leak!" "Heavens! where?" "Right aft the second row of logs." "Nothing but a miracle can save us! Don't let the men know, or there will be a panic and mutiny! Lay her in shore and stand by to jump with the stern-line the moment she touches.
Cast off your bowline, and sheer alongside the Neptune!" "Neptune ahoy! get out a stern-line, and sheer alongside the Trident!" "Trident ahoy! get out a bowline, and drop astern of the Undaunted!" And so it runs round like a shock of electricity; touch one, and you touch all.
Flint had already cast off the fasts, without waiting for orders, and was standing on the forecastle, as impatient to be off as a man can be who is engaged in the commission of a crime. Ben rang the bell to back her; the wheels turned, but as the stern-line had been cast off, her bow was not carried out from the wharf. By this time Lawry had discovered that the Woodville was in motion.
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