October. She was bound for Genoa; and as this was a long trip, a
little group of men, among whom were several who owned shares in her,
waved their farewells from the end of the pier. A number of small
tradesmen and a few well-to-do fishermen had formed a company to buy
her, so she was regarded as quite an institution of the port. A smart
captain had managed her cleverly, and she paid, during five years, an
average dividend of nearly fifty per cent., after the modest claims of
the "managing" owner had been satisfied. Naturally she was regarded as a
treasure, and her fortunate owners used to make triumphant observations
about her to less lucky men. The steamer had gone through some very bad
weather; but as every rivet in her hull had been examined while she was
being put together, and that too by a man whom no skulker could deceive,
she had lived in seas that sent scamped ships to the bottom.

The "Coquet" got away down Channel and struck for Ushant without any
mishap; but when she got well into the Bay the sky began to look
ominous. On the second morning the sea ran very strong, and by mid-day
the gale had fairly come. All the fine descriptions of heavy weather in
the Bay help one but little to understand what it is really like. It is
hardly possible to think coherently about the enormous hurly-burly, much
less to write or speak so as to make anyone understand how the masses of
water move and how they sound. The "Coquet" got into a very bad quarter
indeed, and the captain soon saw that it was useless to try running her.
All hands were warned; the formalities of watches were dispensed with;
and the engineers received orders to get on every possible ounce of
steam. Then the ship was placed with her head to the sea, and the master
took his place on the bridge. He did not know what a very long spell he
would have. Only by keeping the engines at full speed ahead the vessel
was enabled to hold her ground, and sometimes when the usual eight great
waves were followed by the mountainous ninth, she lost considerably. The
captain had to watch like a cat; for an instant's nervousness, a
momentary failure of judgment, would have let her come round, and then
all would have been soon over. The men hung on anyhow, and the two hands
at the wheel were lashed, for the hull was seldom above water. A pouring
stream rushed over the steamer; and hardly had one volume of water
passed away when another came down like thunder. There was very littl