Dorymates: A Tale of the Fishing BanksMunroe, Kirk
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Dorymates: A Tale of the Fishing Banks
Munroe, Kirk
Newfoundland and Labrador -- Fiction
The trawls were set as usual the following evening, for in spite of the
fog the work of fishing was continued with considerable regularity, and
the next morning dory No. 6 went out with the others in quest of its
fare. It was customary in thick weather, while the dories were absent,
to keep the fog-horn constantly sounding on board the schooner, so that
they might be enabled to find her again.
On this occasion there was such a heavy sea running that unusual care
was necessary in the management of the dory, and its crew were
frequently obliged to swing her head to it to prevent her from
capsizing. After considerable difficulty they discovered their buoy, and
began to haul the trawl. In spite of the violent pitching of the boat
they were conducting this operation successfully, and had nearly
completed their task when, unnoticed by them, as their backs were turned
to it, a larger wave than usual came rushing towards them.
It seemed to spring at the deeply laden dory, and lifted it so suddenly
that Wolfe, who was leaning over the gunwale, was pitched head-foremost
into the water. At the same instant Breeze, who had been standing up,
was thrown violently backward against the opposite side of the boat,
which was probably all that saved it from upsetting. As it was, she
shipped a quantity of water, and this, in addition to the load of fish,
sank her far below the limit of safety.
Her head, which had only been held to the wind by the trawl, now swung
off, and as Wolfe rose to the surface and clutched the stern becket she
had turned completely around, and was beginning to drift.
Quickly recovering himself, Breeze went to his companion’s assistance,
and was endeavoring to help him into the boat, when Wolfe gave a sharp
cry of pain, exclaiming,
“I’m caught in the trawl! One of the hooks is in my leg! It’s dragging
me down! Oh, Breeze, help me!”
For an instant Breeze was horror-stricken; but his quick wit enabled him
to understand the situation at once, and also suggested a remedy for it.
Wolfe now formed the connecting link between the dory and the trawl,
which alone prevented it from drifting off before the wind. The strain
on his arms was so great, and the pain from the hook in his leg was so
intense, that he could not keep his hold on the becket more than a
minute longer. When he should once let go he would instantly be dragged
down beneath the dark waters.
While these thoughts were flashing through his mind Breeze had picked up
the buoy-line, cut it free from its keg, and passing the end under
Wolfe’s arms and around his body, had made it fast to the after-thwart.
He thus effectually fastened his companion to the dory, and relieved, in
a measure, the strain on his arms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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