It was not a sea that came away; it was a mere enormous cataract that
poured on irresistibly. Jack knew that so long as he could keep the boat
moving, he might escape having his decks stove in, so he determined to
try it--neck or nothing. No man on board knew when the sea might come
which would heave her down, and they watched grimly as the gallant craft
tore on. Some wanted to heave-to, but the skipper knew that he would
stand a good chance of being smothered that way, and he resolved to get
as near home as possible, in case the hurricane grew worse. After boring
for ten hours in the worst of the tremendous sea, he saw a vessel to
leeward of him, flying signals of distress. She was sinking, and her
boat was smashed. The mate said, "That poor chap on't see land." Jack
thought a little, and then he said, "I'm going to try. Out with your
boat." Discipline on board the smacks is not very strict, and the men
were inclined to question the wisdom of Jack's proposal; but Englishmen
always lean to humanity, and with a little persuasion, all hands
volunteered.
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