Roy Norton

“ The storm had burst upon the Sea-Gull with a violence that, while alarming, was not by any means overwhelming, and for a time, although laboring heavily, the tug succeeded in making way against it. Then, when safety was almost in sight, the second stage of the tempest broke, and this time the tug was powerless against it, and was slowly carried backward from land to sea, although fighting desperately for every inch. There came another slight lull, which was the one the chief mate had taken advantage of to bring the men off the barge to the tug-boat. ”

“ If the Sea-Gull and her convoy had succeeded in keeping afloat, they would have had to light their way against a strong westward drift, but if able to make headway, might have found shelter at Castries. If they had not made this port of safety, it was probable that the tug, barge, and all aboard had foundered and were gone. ”

“ By God, sir, you are a man! There are not many owners who would take that trouble and expense on a hundred-to-one chance. I would bet that you will never find the fellow you have lost, or the barge either ”

“ They are a white lot, the whole outfit of them. Three of them are British, and one of them a Yankee."
I did not tell the others of my crew where I was going, but called Twisted Jimmy to me, and together we went up the dark street to the hotel where the tramp-masters were found in a tiny room, sitting round a table, in an atmosphere so laden with smoke that for a moment we could scarcely distinguish their faces. ”