There was a change came over Elzevir’s features when he saw the Snout; his face had lost its sadness and wore a look of sober happiness.  He put his mouth close to my ear and said:  ’There is some strange leading hand has brought us home at last, and I had rather drown on Moonfleet Beach than live in prison any more, and drown we must within an hour.  Yet we will play the man, and make a fight for life.’  And then, as if gathering together all his force:  ’We have weathered bad times together, and who knows but we shall weather this?’

The other prisoners were on deck now, and had found their way aft.  They were wild with fear, being landsmen and never having seen an angry sea, and indeed that sea might have frighted sailors too.  So they stumbled along drenched with the waves, and clustered round Elzevir, for they looked on him as a leader, because he knew the ways of the sea and was the only one left calm in this dreadful strait.

It was plain that when the Dutch crew found they were embayed, and that the ship must drift into the breakers, they had taken to the boats, for gig and jolly-boat were gone and only the pinnace left amidships.  ’Twas too heavy a boat perhaps for them to have got out in such a fearful sea; but there it lay, and it was to that the prisoners turned their eyes.  Some had hold of Elzevir’s arms, some fell upon the deck and caught him by the knees, beseeching him to show them how to get the pinnace out.

Then he spoke out, shouting to make them hear:  ’Friends, any man that takes to boat is lost.  I know this bay and know this beach, and was indeed born hereabouts, but never knew a boat come to land in such a sea, save bottom uppermost.  So if you want my counsel, there you have it, namely, to stick by the ship.  In half an hour we shall be in the breakers; and I will put the helm up and try to head the brig bows on to the beach; so every man will have a chance to fight for his own life, and God have mercy on those that drown.’

I knew what he said was the truth, and there was nothing for it but to stick to the ship, though that was small chance enough; but those poor, fear-demented souls would have nothing of his advice now ’twas given, and must needs go for the boat.  Then some came up from below who had been in the spirit-room and were full of drink and drink-courage, and heartened on the rest, saying they would have the pinnace out, and every soul should be saved.  Indeed, Fate seemed to point them that road, for a heavier sea than any came on board, and cleared away a great piece of larboard bulwarks that had been working loose, and made, as it were, a clear launching-way for the boat.  Again did Elzevir try to prevail with them to stand by the ship, but they turned away and all made for the pinnace.  It lay amidships and was a heavy boat enough, but with so many hands to help they got it to the broken bulwarks.  Then Elzevir, seeing they would have it out at any price, showed