Jack took one unmarried man, and then coolly proceeded to
make his wild attempt. It was a forlorn kind of chance for everybody,
but as Jack said, "I was saved once, and I know what them poor bloods
feel like."
The little boat had first of all to run down on the sinking smack, and
then, at the risk of capsizing, Jack's vessel ran to leeward and came
round, sending everything shaking as she came up. Only desperately brave
and supremely kindly people would have dared such a thing, and even the
skipper of the foundering vessel said, "Well, chaps, I thought no one
but a mad one would a-tried it on; but Gord bless you all the same."
After that, Jack was obliged to let go his anchor within sound of
breakers, and his fight with death lasted all night. The lifeboats could
not get out to him, and he could only pray that the snow-curtain might
lift. In the morning a slant of wind came which enabled him to get away
from the gnashing breakers, and he got in with the loss of his gaff.
Sally was home for Christmas-time, and she was mighty proud when no less
a person than the Mayor presented Jack with a town's subscription, which
was quite enough to fit up a house.
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