What happened to the St. Anne’s lifeboat can never be known, for not one of her crew was saved to tell the tale. It is supposed that she met with some accident while crossing a sandbank, for, shortly after she had been launched, signals of distress were observed in that quarter. Next morning the boat was found on the beach bottom up with three of her crew hanging to the thwarts--dead. [Illustration: NEWS OF A WRECK ON THE COAST.] Such is the fate that even to-day overhangs the lifeboatman on the uncertain sea. Yet he is ever ready on the first signal of distress to imperil his life to rescue the stranger and the foreigner from a watery grave. "First come, first in," is the rule, and to see the gallant lifeboatmen rushing at the top of their speed in the direction of the boathouse, one would imagine that they were hurrying to some grand entertainment instead of into the very jaws of death. It is not for money that they thus risk their lives, as the pay they receive is very small for the work they have to perform. They are indeed heroes, in the truest sense of the word, and give to the world a glorious example of duty well and nobly done. CHAPTER III. THE WARRIORS OF THE SEA. [On the night of the 9th of December 1886, the Lytham, Southport, and St. Anne’s lifeboats put out to rescue the crew of the ship _Mexico_, which had run aground off the coast of Lancashire. The Southport and St. Anne’s boats were lost, but the Lytham boat effected the rescue in safety.] Up goes the Lytham signal! St. Anne’s has summoned hands! Knee deep in surf the lifeboat’s launched Abreast of Southport sands! Half deafened by the screaming wind, Half blinded by the rain, Three crews await their coxswains, And face the hurricane! The stakes are death or duty! No man has answered "No"! Lives must be saved out yonder On the doomed ship _Mexico_! Did ever night look blacker? Did sea so hiss before? Did ever women’s voices wail More piteous on the shore? Out from three ports of Lancashire That night went lifeboats three, To fight a splendid battle, manned By "Warriors of the Sea." Along the sands of Southport Brave women held their breath, For they knew that those who loved them Were fighting hard with death; A cheer went out from Lytham! The tempest tossed it back, As the gallant lads of Lancashire Bent to the waves’ attack; And girls who dwelt about St. Anne’s, With faces white with fright, Prayed God would still the tempest That dark December night. Sons, husbands, lovers, brothers, They’d given up their all, These noble English women Heartsick at duty’s call; But not a cheer, or tear, or prayer, From those who bent the knee, Came out across the waves to nerve Those Warriors of the Sea.