stling in the bends
and gullies, where small streamlets ran. Uplands, bare of trees and
hedge growth, stretching away inland in a smooth coat of waving grass.
Grass, grass, grass--a sheep fank--a patch of stony hill-side--a
solitary hut, with blue smoke curling above--a misty sky-line--lowering
clouds, and the setting sun breaking through in fleeting patches. Port
William! A quiet place for anchorage after our stormy times! No ships
riding with us under the lee of the land! No sign of human life or
movement in the lonely bay! No noise! Quiet! Only the plaintive
cries of sea-birds that circled and wheeled about us, and the distant
_baa-ing_ of sheep on the green hill-side!

* * * * *

'No time was to be lost,' as the Old Man had said. Soon the quiet of
our lonely anchorage was broken by a din of strenuous work. The
sea-birds flew affrighted from the clang of fore-hammers and the roar
of forge fires.

Our damage was all on the bows. The to'gallan'mast, in its fall, had
wrecked the starboard side of the fo'cas'le; the decks were smashed in;
some beams were broken, others were twisted and bent. The hull plating
had not escaped, and a big rent showed where the grinding ice had
forced the stout cat-head from its solid bed. These were minor
affairs--something might have been done to put them right without
coming to port--but the bowsprit! Ah! It was the bowsprit that had
brought us in!

"It's no use talking," the Old Man had said when he and the Mate were
considering the damage. "That bowsprit! ... Spars? ... We could
make th' spars good; ... an' we could do a fair joab wi' th' ironwork!
... But th' bowsprit! ... No, no! We can't sail th' ship unless
we're sure o' th' head-gear! ... No use! No use talking, Mister!
We'll have t' bear up for th' Falklands, and get that put to rights!"

If further cause were needed to justify the serious course of 'putting
in,' they had it when the carpenter reported water in the forepeak; and
it was discovered that the broken jibboom had not hammered at the bows
for nothing. No hesitation then! No talk! The course was set!

Although the Falklands are famed as a refuge for vessels 'in distress,'
there was then no great facilities for repair. It is enough if the
ships stagger into port in time to save the lives of their crews. Port
Stanley had many such sheer hulks lying to rust and decay in the
landlocked harbour. Good ships that h