These waterspouts strike a ship without the slightest warning, play amongst the rigging, whirl the sails about like feathers--sometimes carry them off bodily, or, if they do not do that, tear them to shreds and shiver the masts.

In either case, the consequences are disagreeable." "A reason for you to be thankful you are safe on shore with us!" remarked Mrs.Wolston.
"It is all very well for you, Mrs.Wolston, and you, Mrs.Becker, to talk in that way; your business in life is that of wives and mothers.
But what will the Lords of the Admiralty say, when they hear that the sloop _Nelson_ was wrecked whilst Master Willis, the boatswain, was skulking on shore like a land-rat ?" "Oh, they would only say there was one useful man more, and a victim the less," replied Fritz.
"Why, not exactly, Master Fritz; they would say that Willis was a poltroon or a deserter, whichever he likes; they would very likely condemn him to the yard-arm by default, and carry out the operation when they get hold of him.

But I will not endanger any one else; all I want is the use of your canoe." "What! brave this storm in a wretched seal-skin cockle-shell like that ?" "Would it not be offending Providence," hazarded Mary Wolston, "for one of God's creatures to abandon himself to certain death ?" "It would, indeed," added Mrs.Wolston; "true courage consists in facing danger when it is inevitable, but not in uselessly imperiling one's life; there stops courage, and temerity begins." "If it is not pride or folly.

I do not mean that with reference to you, Willis," hastily added Wolston; "I know that you are open as day, and that all your impulses arise from the heart." "That is all very fine--but I must act; let me have the canoe.

I want the canoe: that is my idea." "Having lived fifteen years cut off from society," gravely observed Becker, "it may be that I have forgotten some of the laws it imposes; nevertheless, I declare upon my honor and conscience--" "Let me have the canoe, otherwise I must swim to the ship." "I declare," continued Becker, "that Willis exaggerates the requirements of his duty.