Roy Norton

“ Why not each of us put a pumping gang aboard and in the meantime I will come up forward, get our line across, and make for port. The pump crews can tow their boats behind, so that if the barge founders under the strain, they will be safe enough."
I had not expected so much kindness and generosity. I made a feeble protest which they promptly overruled, and proceeded to carry out their own plans. So, when darkness fell, the Nelson was keeping a tight hawse-line on an unwieldy, sluggish barge behind, from which came the steady clanging of hand-pumps, emptying water into the sea. ”

“ The Sea-Gull could tow the barge to the sunken Esperanza, where we could anchor her securely, although aware that if another hurricane arose we should have to abandon her to her fate. She was comparatively useless for our purpose save as a floating platform from which to work. The Sea-Gull could then make for Key West, and there try to learn the nearest point where a salvage outfit, suitable for our needs, could be obtained. ”

“ The Sea-Gull was now again worthy of her name; but the damage to our outfit was irreparable. We had the Hector, the Sea-Gull, a barge without cranes or power, and two steel cylinders. We had no pontoons with which to continue our salvage operations, but we did have fair and settled weather. There seemed but one course left open, the one that we at last decided upon, which was that we must at least forestall any one else on the scene, hold possession of the ground, and in the meantime send the tug under Rogers on a northward cruise to purchase a new barge with full auxiliary equipment. ”

“ But of one thing you can be assured, Mike Cochrane, that neither Jimmy Martin nor I are ever again going to think of what happened aboard the Esperanza. You are one of us, and if I ever get anywhere, you are not going to want for a friend. ”

“ In the ten days while these preparations were being effected, Cochrane completely recovered, and was duly appointed captain of the barge on that day when the Sea-Gull took her under tow and we headed out of the harbor to renew the fight in which, so far, we had invariably been worsted. Jimmy Martin somewhat expressed my own thoughts when, aboard the Hector, and running light, we too cleared the harbor, and headed northward.
"There is one blessed sure thing," he said, "which is, that nothing more can happen to us than has already happened, so far as I can see. ”

“ There was quite a gathering on the deck of the barge after Cochrane had been safely bestowed, and I was greeted by the Yankee skipper with "Well, Captain Hale, your barge isn't so bad. She's not making any water just now, and I have an idea that we can send over men from all the boats with hand-pumps and get the best of it. Enough so that we can tow this bit of salvage back for you, if you want it."
"Want it? Of course he does," growled the master of the Nelson. "I've got a new hawse-line and the bits of the barge are still sound. ”

“ I said, "and find out whether it is to be a fight or a fair and decent game, in which honors to the first winner are conceded, and the beaten man withdraws. If we are going to have trouble, the sooner we know it the better." ”