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From: Viera P. <far...@jo...> - 2009-08-19 19:39:48
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Would attend a jump across the three or four feet of water between the craft. "I think you'd better stop here," he objected. "I don't," Jake answered with a laugh. "Guess you've got to be logical. You want the coal, and it will take us both to save it." He followed the fireman, who stood, balancing himself for a spring, on the forward deck, while Dick let the launch swing in as close as he thought safe. The man leapt and Dick watched Jake with keen anxiety as the launch rose with the next comber, but the lad sprang off as the bows went up, and came down with a splash in the water that flowed across the lighter's deck. Then Dick caught the line thrown him and with some trouble dragged the end of the hawser on board. He was surprised to find that it was not broken, but he waved his hand to the others as he drove the launch ahead, steering for the beach, near which he expected to find a passage through the reef. Before he had gone far the tug steamed towards him with the other barges in tow, apparently bound for Adexe. "It is not possible to go on," the skipper hailed. "Give me a rope; we take the lighter." "You shan't take her to Adexe," Dick shouted. "We want the coal." Though there was danger in getting too close, the captain let the tug drift nearer. "We bring you the lot when the wind drops." "No," said Dick, "I'll stick to what I've got." He could not catch the captain's reply as the tug forged past, but it sounded like an exclamation of anger or surprise, and he looked anxiously for the foam upon the reef. |