Emma looked to her father. “Why in the world would anyone want to stay on that doomed ship?”
Her father pointed at another man. “You, sir. What’s your name?”
He quickly rose to his feet. “Davey Parker.”
“What’s your ship’s cargo?”
Emma understood her father’s reasoning. Perhaps there was something valuable on board.
“It ain’t the cargo,” Davey replied. “A crewman was swept overboard, and the captain stayed behind to keep searchin’ for him.”
“But we all knew there was no hope,” another said. “We saw him go overboard three hours ago.”
Emma approached Davey. “But your captain believed there was a chance?”
“I doubt it. I think it was his sense of duty. He’s a proud man, determined to go down with his ship.”
Emma locked eyes with her father. “We can’t just leave him out there.”
Her father glanced back at the rescue crew, who sat exhausted on the beach. “I don’t know if they’re up to it.”
One of the boat-wagon horses whinnied and shook himself in the harness, rattling the chains and buckles.
“We can’t just let him die,” Emma argued.
“We tried to talk him into coming with us,” Billy insisted. “But he wouldn’t hear of it. And I’ll tell you right now ...” He pointed at the ocean. “Going back out there would be a fool’s errand. More good men will end up dead!”
“It’s not a fool’s errand,” Emma replied. “It’s our sole purpose here. We’re a rescue station.” She turned to her father again. “We have to try.”
He turned to the water and raised his binoculars again. For a full minute he studied the swells and breakers as they struck the ship. At last, thankfully, he nodded in agreement and strode to the lifesaving crew, who had been watching and listening to the exchange. Emma followed.
“It’s a lot to ask,” her father said, “but are any of you willing to go out there again and bring the captain back?”
They sat in silence, knees hugged to chests, shivering.
Joseph, the crew captain, got to his feet. “If we go, and he still refuses to get off ...”
“Then I suggest you remove him by force!” Emma shouted over the roar of the ocean. “God knows what he’s been through! He might not be in his right mind!”
Her father nodded. “I need four volunteers.”
No one stepped up, so Emma raised her hand. “I’ll go.”
There was a sudden communal shout of protest as six men leaped to their feet.
“Now we’re talking,” Joseph said. “Larry, you’re the biggest. I could use your muscle.”
While Philip and Abigail drove the shipwreck survivors back to Main Station to be fed and housed, Emma remained on the beach with her father to watch the second rescue attempt.
When, at last, the crew reached the ship and lashed the boat to the south side of the bow, they found some shelter from the breakers.
“What’s happening?” Emma asked, her breath coming short, her heart pounding against her rib cage.
“Joseph just climbed aboard,” her father replied. “He’s entering the bridge.”
Emma waited with bated breath for more information. Seconds ticked by like minutes, minutes like hours. The salty spray blew relentlessly off the water, and Emma gathered her coat collar tighter about her neck and sniffled from the cold.
“They have him!” her father shouted. “He’s getting into the lifeboat!”
