Instantly Fullalove stripped, and Vespasian next
"Two is enough on such a desperate errand," said Dodd with a groan.
But now emulation was up, and neither Briton, Yankee, nor negro would
give way. A line was made fast to the sailor's waist, and he was lowered
to leeward; his venturesome rivals followed. The sea swallowed those
three heroes like crumbs, and small was the hope of life for them.
The three heroes being first-rate swimmers and divers, and going with the
tide, soon neared the shore on the ship's lee quarter; but a sight of it
was enough: to attempt to land on that rock with such a sea on was to get
their skulls smashed like eggshells in a moment. They had to coast it,
looking out for a soft place.
They found one, and tried to land; but so irresistible was the suction of
the retiring wave, that, whenever they got foot on the sand, and tried to
run, they were wrenched out to sea again, and pounded black and blue and
breathless by the curling breaker they met coming in.
After a score of vain efforts, the negro, throwing himself on his back,
went in with a high wave, and, on touching the sand, turned, dug all his
ten claws into it clenched his teeth, and scrambled like a cat at a wall.
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