The Lady Rider 235 



hounds is an object-lesson, but their boldness springs not 

 from bravery or pluck or nerve, but simply resolution. 

 They have made up their minds to go, and whatever it is 

 that stands for their nerve or courage is screwed to the 

 sticking-point until the end of the run. I say all this with 

 the greatest respect, of course, and mean no slur whatever. 

 I remember once, upon my ship's arriving in the Bay of 

 Fayal, Azores, passengers were obliged to go ashore in life- 

 boats in a sea that was running very high, and among them 

 was a woman whose destination was Fayal. She was a 

 peculiarly nervous type, just short, indeed, of the hysterical. 

 During the voyage, if the great ship gave an unusual lurch 

 or roll, she would scream in terror, and every one won- 

 dered how in the world she was to get down the narrow 

 gangway and into the small boat, bounding up and down as 

 it was, with no assisting hand. A person descending the 

 ladder had to stop on the last round and wait until a wave 

 of the right height placed the small boat on a level with 

 the step an instant before it dropped again ten or Fifteen 

 feet into the trough of the sea. The captain, a Portuguese, 

 in a comical state of anxiety to know how to manage this 

 particular passenger, finally turned and walked away, fear- 

 ing a scene. The key of the situation, however, was in 

 her woman's head. A firm look of resolution settled over 

 her face. She glanced once over the rail ; then, with a toss 

 of her head, walked to the ladder and, spurning all assis- 

 tance, made the descent with less apparent concern than any 

 man who had preceded her. Such was her woman's way. 

 It was simply resolution, that set like a time-lock and car- 

 ried her through. No doubt she fainted at the landing. 



