heexaleherbluelightswerebued
shoheterriblenatureofthescenethevesselswereendousaststo
relievethestrainontheiranchorsthepaddlesandscrehestears
behindtheldbeplainlyseenbuteventhisavailedtheutlittle,foralsteveryshiplaynearertothelineofcliffsthanshedidfell;severalothefootoftherocks,
andthelookersonnoticedthatsoheshore
issingonthedebersof
personsholdingontoropesandbuletisfrohedeckofavesselarocketsoaredup,thechingitasitrose,andcarryingitfarinland
bythecaptainsordersseveralbluelights,hepartyhadbroughtdooshohoseonboardthattheirpositionbeyondthisnothinguldbedonepresentlyevenabovethenoiseofthegaleatrendouscrashheyfanciedthattheyheardaefaintlyup
”cannothingbedone”jackshoutedtohisfriend”nothing,sir,”anoldsailorsaided
thereoing,foriuntedthe
andidoubtifohenight”
bythistithesailors,unabletolieinactive,hadjoinedtheofficers,andallteredingroupsalongthecliff”istherenopossibletingdoheer”jacksaid
”idontthinkso,sir;butifitightkeashift
totry”
”letustry,anyhoksaid
”oh,thereisanother”asanothercrashhegale”anythingisbetterthanstandinghereidontthinkthecliffgoesquitesheerdoustry,dick;ito
bedoingsothing”
”allright,jackletyouandisticktogetherdoyoulads,”hesaid,tuingtothreeorfoursailorsandingby,”keepclosetous,andlendahand”atthepointheyanding,itwasclearlyiossibletogetdo,
theirfeetfarthertotheleft,hooregradually,andheretheboysbegantotrytodescend
”thereisasortofholloed,”asortofravine
thisisourbestplace”
cautiously,stepbystep,holdingontosuchbushesasgreongtheroesflattenedagainsttherocksbytheforceofthegust,anddrenchedeveryntbythesheetsofspray,theboysdetheirilltheypausedataspotherockfell
aont
theyheardaavesselappearedthroughthedarknessbeloendousthudagainsttherocksthe
sts,edalstabletoju
upontheastheyreachednearlytothelevelonheywerestanding,instantlygoingoverthesidepeeringover,theyuldseetheblackssinthedstofthesurgingeersattheirfeetthesailorshadpausedsoheascent,appalledbythedifficultiesoreactive,had
acplished
”gouptothetopagain,”habingba”bring
dohosesparsdok,alongrope,anda
shortooserveasaguygethalfadozenrehandsyoudbetterfixaropeatthetopfiry,anduseittosteadyyouasyouretutheresashipashorejustundeeathus,andithinkdown”
inafeinutesthesailorsdescendedagain,carryingasparsotnsedifficultythiswaslowered
tothespotheboyshadreachedoneofthesailorshadbroughtdoe,andbyitslightablockotheend,anda
longroperovedthroughitthenashorterropeenedtotheendasaguy,andthesparlo,tillitslopedhe
edgetheloherspiled
roundit
”noksaid,”iwillgodown”
”youllnevergetdohesailorsaid”thewind
heavier”
”letgodohyou,”jacksaid”thethan
an,andokeepusoffthecliffbesides,
herdownbelow”
”allright,”diaketwoloops
sothatea
shortropeoftslong,sothatanropeourselvestogether,andoneholdonincasetheotheris
dohe
edge,andeyell,lettheoista”
theboyseadily,”dick
said”stoploweringifweyell”
inanotheutetheladsetenfeetout
frohefaceofthecliffforthefirstfeheydescendedsteadily,andthen,astheropelengthened,thegustsofwindflungtheiolentlyagainstthefaceofthecliff
”fendheroffhyourlegs,jack;thatsthehatsaduasa
untainousseastrucktherockbelohink
theressothingblackdoepartofherstill
holdstogether;sloedup,inoneofthepausesofthegale,andhardysresponseof”aye,aye,sir,”cadoitinutes;butattheendofthatti,
bruised,bleeding,halfstunnedbytheblohe
sheetsof,theladsfeettouchedthe
roedaslopingshelfofsothirtyfeetthe
footofthecliff
thediatelyunderthefeet
aisshapenblacksstheyhadbeenseen,
fortheyhadtheedgeofthecliffbefore
starting,andtheyhadseveraltisshoutedastheydescended,andastheynearedtheground,theyedathearingbyanansweringshoutthattheirlaborshadnotbeeninvain,andthatsoonestillsurvived
”throedatthetopofhisvoice;andina
nttheyheardaropefallgropingaboutinthe
darkness,theyfoundit,justasa,and,dashinghighovertheirheads,drovethegainsttherock,andthenfloatedthefftheirfeettheropefroboveheldthehowever”lowera,andthen,aidedbythe
ropefroheship,theyscraledalong,andothe
