Morgan Robertson

“ Lightning played all around us, and by the light of the flashes we worked until we had the chain secured to the anchor, which, luckily, hung at the cat-head instead of being stowed on the rail. We then overhauled a range of chain, but just as we were ready to let go there came a mighty straining on the windlass, then a sudden jolt, and we knew the small anchor had caught something and parted the chain. Then we heard for a moment the bell-buoy and knew we were in the Swash Channel.
"'Stand by to give her the chain, quick!' shouted the mate as he let go the big mud-hook. ”

“ I didn't like to hear the mate talk like this, but he was my superior and I had nothing to say. The parson was a long-geared, mild-mannered man, with a chin-whisker and bald head; a nice old fellow, and very much frightened at the trouble we were in.
"The third day the wind moderated, and the mate proposed trying to set the lower topsails.
"'How'll we sheet home?' I asked. 'If we had a donkey-engine, now—'
"'I have it,' he broke in. 'We've got a cow—a good, strong, able-bodied cow. She has got to work her passage.'
"We inspected the cow. ”

“ He laughed till the tears came as he saw the cow walk along with a brace fast to her, bribed by the turnip ahead and fanned by a board behind.
"An ocean tug came along about dark and the mate struck a bargain to be towed in with the tug's tow-line and docked. The cow helped us to get the line, and worked half the night clewing up the sails. If she could have gone aloft we would have made her furl them. We were mean enough. As he backed into the slip next day the tug captain climbed aboard. 'What kind of a crew do you call this?' he asked, as he saw us getting lines ready. ”