But they had to leave him on deck: no help for it. Dodd advised
Mrs. Beresford once more to attempt the rope: she declined. "I dare not!
I dare not!" she cried, but she begged Dodd hard to go on it and save
himself.
It was a strong temptation: he clutched the treasure in his bosom, and
one sob burst from the strong man.
That sob was but the tax paid by Nature; for pride, humanity, and manhood
stood staunch in spite of it. "No, no, I can't," said he "I mustn't.
Don't tempt me to leave you in this plight, and be a cur! Live or die, I
must be the last man on her. Here's something coming out to us, the Lord
in Heaven be praised!"
A bright light was seen moving down the black line that held them to the
shore; it descended slowly within a foot of the billows, and lighting
them up showed their fearful proximity to the rope in mid-passage: they
had washed off many a poor fellow at that part.
"Look at that! Thank Heaven you did not try it!" said Dodd to Mrs.
Beresford.
At tins moment a higher wave than usual swallowed up the light: there was
a loud cry of dismay from the shore, and a wail of despair from the ship.
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