Page:The Wireless Operator with the U.S. Coast Guard.djvu/172

 rope and rail and clung with all their might. The great wave went sweeping aft like an avenging fury, but not a man was swept away. Instantly the captain signaled to lessen speed. The Iroquois forged ahead more slowly, the leadsman sounding continually and shouting the depth to the commander on the bridge. Soon the cutter rode at a safe depth. The engines were stopped, the anchor-chain was made fast, and once more the Iroquois rode safe at the edge of the breakers.

All the while the resistless tide was sweeping the struggling men in the breakers out toward the Iroquois. One by one they were now borne past the ship, struggling desperately to reach her side. With trembling hands eager comrades flung ropes and buoys. All fell short. One man alone came close, bravely fighting his way to the starboard side of the cutter. A sailor climbed over the rail and down a ladder, leaned down, and snatched his struggling comrade as the latter shot upward on the crest of a wave. At that instant the ship lurched violently to port, the sailor’s grasp was broken, his comrade was torn from his grip, and the poor fellow was sucked away by a wave, and, struggling desperately, was borne out to sea. All about the Iroquois men were fighting with the waves. In desperation their comrades watched them.