246 THE SEA. 



a lio-ht-house were shattered from this cause. On one occasion one thousand wild ducks were 



O 



caught by the crew of a light-ship. It is necessary to defend with trellis-work the lights 

 most exposed. 



The cabin of the Floating Light was marvellously neat and clean. Everything was put 

 away in its proper place, not only as the result of order and discipline, but on account of the 

 extreme smallness of the cabin. The author of the work from which we quote depicts a 

 scene on board during a night of storms when a wreck and unexpected rescue took place : 

 " A little before midnight, while I was rolling uneasily in my ' bunk/ contending with 

 sleep and sea-sickness, and moralising on the madness of those who choose 'the sea' for a 

 profession, I was roused and sickness instantly cured by the watch on deck suddenly shouting 

 down the hatchway to the mate, ' South Sand Head light is firing, sir, and sending up rockets/ 

 The mate sprang from his ' bunk/ and was on the cabin-floor before the sentence was well 

 finished. I followed suit, and pulled on coat, nether garments, and shoes, as if my life 

 depended on my own speed. There was unusual need for clothing^ for the night was bitterly 

 cold. On gaining the deck, we found the two men on duty actively at work the one loading 

 the lee gun, the other adjusting a rocket to its stick. A few hurried questions from the mate 

 elicited all that it was needful to know. 



" The flash of the gun from the ' South Sand Head ' light-ship, about six miles off, had 

 been distinctly seen a third time, and a third rocket went up, indicating that a vessel had struck 

 upon the fatal Goodwin Sands. The report of the gun could not be heard, owing to the gale 

 carrying the sound to leeward, but the bright line of the rocket was distinctly visible. At the 

 same moment the glaring light of a burning tar-barrel was observed. It was the signal of the 

 vessel in distress, just on the southern tail of the sands. 



" By this time the gun was charged, and the rocket in position. 



" One of the crew dived down the companion-hatch, and in another moment returned 

 with a red-hot poker, which the mate had thrust into the cabin fire at the first alarm. He 

 applied it in quick succession to the gun and rocket. A blinding flash and deafening crash 

 were followed by the whiz of the rocket as it sprang with a magnificent curve far away into 

 the surrounding darkness. 



" This was their answer to the South Sand Head light, which, having fired three guns and 

 sent up three rockets to attract the attention of the Gall, then ceased firing. It was also 

 their first note of warning to the look-out on the pier of Ramsgate Harbour. Of the three 

 light-ships that guarded the sands, the Gull lay nearest to Ramsgate ; hence, which ever of 

 the other two happened to send up signals, the Gull had to reply, and thenceforward to 

 continue repeating them until the attention of the Ramsgate look-out should be gained, and a 

 reply given. 



" The steam tug Aid, which always attends upon, and takes in tow, the Ramsgate life- 

 boat, soon hove in sight, going to the rescue, thus showing the great value of steam in such 

 matters. Having learnt the direction of the wreck from the mate of the light-ship, they 

 proceeded on their course." 



The life of the crew of every light-ship is pretty much the same on Sunday. At dawn 

 the lantern is lowered and cleaned and prepared for the next night's work. At 8 a.m. all 

 hands must be on the alert, the hammocks stowed, and breakfast served. At 10.30 the men 



