"There must be an end of this!" said Alida, clasping her hands in a terror
that could not be controlled. "Save yourselves, if possible, you who have
strength and courage, and leave us to the mercy of him whose eye is over
all!"
"Go;" added Seadrift, whose sex could no longer be concealed. "Human
courage can do no more: leave us to die!"
The looks, that were returned to these sad requests, were melancholy but
unmoved. The Skimmer caught a rope, and still holding it in his hand, he
descended to the quarter-deck, on which he at first trusted his weight
with jealous caution. Then looking up, he smiled encouragingly, and
said,--"Where a gun still stands, there is no danger for the weight of a
man!"
"It is our only resource;" cried Ludlow, imitating his example. "On, my
men, while the beams will still hold us."
In a moment, all were on the quarter-deck, though the excessive heat
rendered it impossible to remain stationary an instant. A gun on each side
was run in, its tackles loosened, and its muzzle pointed towards the
tottering, unsupported, but still upright fore-mast.
"Aim at the cleets!" said Ludlow to the Skimmer who pointed one gun, while
he did the same office at the other.
"Hold!" cried the latter "Throw in shot--it is out the chance between a
bursting gun and a lighted magazine!"
Additional balls were introduced into each piece; and then, with steady
hands, the gallant mariners applied burning brands to the priming.
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