DRAGGING. 305 



sc-areely ever be gotten to do justice to those on 

 the East Coast whom they think sneaks and 

 mean fellows generally. 



At eight o'clock when the anchor watch was set 

 tor the night, we dropped a third anchor unde? 

 foot, and paid out some more cable on the others. 

 The wind was now directly on shore, and the long 

 line of white surf which stretched from beam to 

 beam showed plainly the vessel's fate that dragged 

 her anchor this night. 



We had set the Earl of Harwood by the com- 

 pass, and those on deck now kept an eager look 

 out upon her to see if she changed her position at 

 all, as that would be a sure indication that her 

 anchors had broke ground. The fate of two other 

 vessels, one of them partly owned by our captain, 

 depended, in a measure, upon this vessel's. She 

 was anchored directly to windward of them ; and 

 )f she got adrift, they would be either cut down 

 and sunk, or to prevent such a catastrophe, would 

 be forced to slip their cables and drift ashore. 



Meantime, the gale roared through the rigging 

 with freshened impetus, and the surf boomed on 

 the beach with a noise like many thunders. My 

 watch on deck was from 10 to 12. As my watch- 

 mate and I came on deck, the Earl of Harwood 

 began to drag. At first she lost ground but 

 slowly. Her people were paying out cable, in 

 hopes to get their anchors fast once more. The 

 r fficers of the brig and barque to leeward, were 

 20 



