Part 41 (2/2)

”A crew must go again,” cried Van Heldre. ”We cannot stand here and let them perish before our eyes. Here, my lads!” he roared. ”Volunteers!”

”Mr Leslie! My father,” whispered Madelaine; but the young mine-owner was already on his way to where Van Heldre stood.

”Do you hear?” roared the latter. ”Do as you would be done by.

Volunteers!”

Not a man stirred, the peril was too great.

”It's no good, master,” said the old c.o.xswain; ”they're gone, poor lads, by now.”

”No,” cried Leslie excitedly; ”the light is there still.”

”Ay,” said the c.o.xswain, ”a lamp 'll burn some time longer than a man's life. Here, master, I'll go again, if you can get a crew.”

”Volunteers!” shouted Van Heldre, but there was only a confused babble of voices, as women clung to their men and held back those who would have yielded.

”Are you men!” roared Leslie excitedly; and Madelaine felt her arm grasped tightly. ”I say, are you men, to stand there and see those poor fellows perish before your eyes!”

”It's throwing lives away,” cried a shrill woman's voice.

”Ay, go yoursen,” shouted a man angrily. ”I'm going,” roared Leslie.

”Only a landsman. Now then, is there never a sailor who will come?”

There was a panting, spasmodic cry at Madelaine's ear, one which she echoed, as Harry Vine stepped up to Leslie's side.

”Here's another landsman,” he cried excitedly. ”Now, Pradelle, come on!”

There was no response from his companion, who drew back.

”No, no,” panted Madelaine. ”Louie--help me--they must not go.”

Her words were drowned in a tremendous cheer, for Van Heldre, without a word, had stepped into the life-boat, followed by the two young men.

Example is said to be better than precept. It was so here, for, with a rush, twenty of the st.u.r.dy Hakemouth fishers made for the boat, and the crew was not only made up, but a dozen men begged Van Heldre and the two young men to come out and let others take their places.

”_No_,” said Leslie through his set teeth; ”not if I never see sh.o.r.e again, Henry Vine.”

”Is that brag to Hector over me, or British pluck?” said Harry.

”Don't know, my lad. Are you going ash.o.r.e?”

”Let's wait and see,” muttered Harry, as he tied on the life-preserver handed to him.

”Harry, my boy!”

The young man looked up and saw his father on the harbour wall.

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