t makes long lunges and describes great
arcs on the background of the darkness; then the brigadesmen know that
the ship is in the stream that pours up the gulf made by the piers. If
she keeps her red light open till she is nearly abreast of the House,
there is only one more danger for her. She may strike on the Black
Middens (a heap of snaggy rocks lying under Tynemouth), and in that case
the south-side men have nothing to do with her. But sometimes the vessel
shows all her lights and rushes upon the South Pier. Then the men wait
for the last lurch and that wallowing crash that they know so well. The
rocket is laid, and flies out over the rigging; the brigadesmen haul on
their rope, and the basket comes rocking ashore along the line. It is
not child's play to stand in the open and work the rocket apparatus;
sometimes a whole row of men are struck by a single sea, and have to
hang on wherever they can. Sometimes a careless man is carried along the
pier like a cork, and sometimes one is washed clean over the side. A
lucky young gentleman was taken into the sea one winter and buffeted
smartly until a chance wave landed him again. The buffeting and
drenching are taken as part of the day's work, and the young fellows
joke about it just as soldiers will joke under fire. There is much
curiosity as the basket is hauled in. On one occasion a cat and her
kittens were the first rescued of a ship's company, and on another
occasion a dog came ashore looking much surprised at his position. At
various times all sorts and conditions of men have to slide along that
friendly rope. Stolid Dutchmen, gesticulating Italians, cool
north-country sailors are landed, and all are treated alike. A solemn
man with a rum-bottle awaits them as they pass into the friendly light
of the House: like some officiating priest he gravely pours out a
glassful and silently hands it to the rescued seafarer; then the berth
and the hot-water bottle are made ready, and the fortunate sailor is
warmly wrapped up.

It sometimes happens that the rocket cannot be used--perhaps on account
of the position of the vessel, perhaps through the stupidity of the
crew. In that case other means must be employed. Last winter a ship came
on the shore; the sea broke heavily over her, and her crew had to take
to the rigging. A plucky brigadesman swam off through waves that might
have stupefied a bulldog; he had to watch his chances, and breathe when
the crest had rushed on so that h