TRAWLERS TO THE RESCUE 



the cutter, was the last to leave her, getting on board 

 the smack by means of the mizen rigging. When 

 he had left the boat the rope was cut ; but the little 

 craft had done its work well. She was full of water, 

 having a hole in her which had been stuffed with a 

 pair of pants, one of the sailors having taken off 

 these garments for the purpose. As soon as the 

 men had been got on board the Provident headed for 

 Brixham. This was at one o'clock in the afternoon. 

 A fifty-ton sailing smack could not afford much 

 accommodation for nearly eighty men, all told ; but 

 she provided welcome shelter to men who were almost 

 perishing and starving, and whatever it was possible 

 for the fishermen to do for the sufferers they did. 

 There was the little cabin itself, which was crowded, 

 so was the fish-room, the hold also, where the boiler 

 was installed ; and the warmth below was welcome 

 indeed to men who for so many hours had been 

 battling with a winter gale in an open boat, con- 

 stantly expecting death. They had nothing to eat 

 or drink, and their clothing was of the scantiest, for 

 the torpedoing of a battleship left no time to dress. 

 In some cases the rescued men had no trousers, and 

 these were allowed to take the places nearest to the 

 boiler fire. Other men were bare-footed, and all 

 suffered greatly from exposure. Welcome indeed, 

 therefore, was the shelter and warmth of the smack's 

 interior, and as welcome the hot coffee and biscuits 

 which were provided on board. To these comforts 

 were added the knowledge that Brixham fishermen 



had a Brixham smack in charge and that thev were 



89 



