So desperate was her situation that her one chance lay in reaching a more sheltered spot. The salvage officer looked at the sky, saw the wind blowing the crests off the waves, then he got busy. Working at pressure, he and his men managed to set a few baulks of timber within the ship to strengthen the damaged hull, and as the tide rose his tugs and salvage vessel started to haul her off the beach. He knew she was in a sinking condition, that she might go down before he could get her to a place of safety, but against this risk was her certain loss if she remained where she was. Then began his struggle to beat the coming gale. The steamer was quite unmanageable, so he set two tugs hauling away in front, while he hung on behind with the salvage vessel, making his ship play the part of a rudder to the damaged craft. Along the coast northward the little procession made its way. The pumps were working continuously, throwing out tons of water, but they could not conquer the inrush. The captain and crew were still aboard, fighting hard to keep down the water. But all their efforts were useless. Gradually the ship sank lower and lower in the seas, and by the time they had reached Hartland Point--one of the most dangerous spots on that exposed coast--her end seemed but a matter of minutes. Her decks were practically awash. Heavy seas rolled right over them, and it became imperative to take off the men aboard. A dozen attempts were made in those heaving seas before the crew were rescued, and as the last man left he cast off the towing hawsers. Only the _Ranger_, that famous salvage ship, hung on, still straining at the stern of the sinking steamer. A man stood by to slip the cable as she foundered, and the rescued crew crowded round to see her go, all waiting tensely for the end. [Illustration: THE SHIP WHICH WAS GIVEN UP FOR LOST, AFTER HER MEN HAD BEEN RESCUED WITH DIFFICULTY. THE TUGS, TO AVOID BEING DRAGGED DOWN BY THE FOUNDERING VESSEL, CAST OFF THEIR HAWSERS, BUT THE SALVAGE STEAMER STILL HUNG ON TO THE STERN AND 7 GALLANT MEN GAMBLED WITH DEATH IN A LAST EFFORT TO SALVE HER] For a few moments the salvage officer watched the torpedoed ship. A few miles along the coast was Clovelly and safety. He wondered if he could make it in spite of everything, if there was yet a chance of snatching a victory over wind and wave, not to mention the Germans. After a close scrutiny of the ship, he determined to try. [Illustration: IN THE FACE OF INCREDIBLE DIFFICULTIES THE SALVAGE MEN TRIUMPHANTLY BEACHED THE SINKING STEAMER AT CLOVELLY] Turning to his men, he called for volunteers to help him make one last attempt. Half a dozen men stepped forward. All knew the odds were against them, that a watery grave probably awaited them. Yet none hesitated.