Help from Shore.

On shore, the excitement had reached a panic intensity, it being all the greater in the knowledge of their absolute impotency to aid those fifteen men battling for their lives against tempest uous odds. But something must be done. There was one faint gleam of hope … it was risky—the risk must be taken. An old lifeboat, a stranger to water for thirteen years had spent all that time reposing in peaceful degeneracy at the service station. This boat had always been considered unlucky and the last time she was in the water she had capsized and drowned one of her occupants. All this did not prevent a host of volunteers pressing forward to make up a crew that would venture out to save their fellows.

Speedily the boat was launched and anxious eyes were glued to that lifeboat, as, breasting green mountains of water; now hidden from view, now bow high in the air, it pushed steadily out to sea. Capably handled and kept well to the sea, she slowly worked down to the helpless men. At long last she gained her objective and one by one those who were left were grasped with a grip that meant the dragging of them from death, and they were hauled aboard. All saved … for the instant.