When any ship touched at the port
it was his genial face that was first seen, and when they passed on
their long voyages to distant lands it was he who gave the last
word of farewell. Among the women he had been esteemed as an
oracle, to whom they went for comfort in stormy weather when in
doubt as to the fate of lovers or husbands at the fishing; and even
the young children had learned to know his heavy stride, and to run
into the street when he approached, that they might cling to his
great, gentle hand and hear his kind, cheery voice.
The accident had been seen by a large number of women who had
gathered on the Lookout Hill, where they were wont to assemble in
rough weather when watching for the return of the fishing smacks.
When the Curlew was seen to capsize a loud shriek rent the air, for
all knew that to be cast into that dreadful tideway meant almost
certain death. The impulse of my sister Jessie and Thora to put out
in a small boat that lay at the water's edge, on the possible
chance of saving some of us, was, therefore, looked upon as a mad
freak. But when the two girls were seen to rescue me from the
upturned boat, they were praised for their promptitude.
My own rescue, however, was much marvelled at. I had been known as
a good swimmer; but that was not extraordinary in a place where
swimming and cliff climbing were learnt before the alphabet.
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