126 ALL AFLOAT 



chance. There is no such thing as a good 

 chance now. But he sees one of some kind, 

 just as the men get the sail on the yard and are 

 trying to make it fast. Down goes the helm, 

 and her head comes slowly up to the wind. 



* She 's doing it No ! Hang on, all ! Great 



snakes, here comes a sea ! ' Struck full, 

 straight on her beam, by wind and sea together, 

 the Victoria lays over as if she would never 

 stop. Over she heels to it over, over, over ! 

 A second is a long suspense at such a time as 

 this. The sea breaks in thunder along her 

 whole length, and pours in a sweeping cataract 

 across her deck, smashing the boats and 

 dragging all loose gear to leeward. Over she 

 heels over, over, over ! The yards are nearly 

 up and down. The men cling desperately, as 

 if to an inverted mast. And well they may, 

 especially on the leeward arm that dips them 

 far under a surge of water which seems likely 

 to snap the whole thing off. But the Victoria's 

 cargo and ballast never shift an inch. Her 

 stability is excellent. And as the heaving 

 shoulder eases down she holds her keel in, just 

 before another lurch would send her turning 

 turtle. A pause ... a quiver . . . and she 

 begins to right. ' Now then,' roars the in- 

 domitable mate, the moment his dripping 



