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And I can still hear his voice in the darkness, heartening us all: “We’re doing a full six knots, lads! Let that warm your blood if bailing can’t do it—but don’t stop bailing!”

Once, in a brief lull between storms, Fryer had suggested that a prayer be said. “No, Mr. Fryer,” he replied. “Pray if you like, but to my way of thinking, God expects better than prayers of us at a time like this.” It was in this same lull, I remember, that Cole called back, “Sir, shall I relieve you at the tiller?”

“Sit where you are, Mr. Cole,” Bligh replied. “Do you think you can handle her better than myself?”

“I know very well I can’t,” Cole replied. “I was thinking how tired you must be.”

A moment of silence followed; then we again heard Bligh’s voice: “You are a good man, Mr. Cole, and an able man. I wish there were more like you in the service.”

It was a handsome apology, and praise well deserved. I knew how it must have warmed Cole’s heart.

The pause between squalls was of short duration. There was more, and worse, to come; and in the midst of it I saw Captain Bligh at the summit of his career.