Then the
fore-top-sail was clewed up, the spanker set, the yards braced up sharp,
and the ship continued forging ahead with increased motion. Every yard
of distance gained was measured with a watchful eye, and increased the
confidence of those on board.
"We shall save her yet, captain," said Tite, a smile of satisfaction
playing over his face. "We won't give up the good old ship!"
"God bless you, my hearty, God bless you!" returned the old captain,
grasping Tite's hand warmly. "It's you shall have the credit of it if
she weathers the point. Yes, sir, you. Killin' a whale is killin' a
whale. Gives a sailor fair play in a square fight. But this being run
down by an iceberg, and ship and all hands crushed to powder, gives a
sailor no chance to show what there is in him. When a man gets killed
according to his liking, why, then he's satisfied. But there's no way
you could get satisfaction in being killed by an iceberg. It was'nt my
own life I was thinking about, Mr. Toodlebug. Not a bit of it." Here he
again grasped Tite firmly by the hand, and lowered his voice to a
whisper.
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