Such exceptional qualities did Charlie Brooke possess. A South Sea Islander might have envied but could not have excelled him.
It was these qualities that decided the course of his career just after he left school.
Charlie, said his mother, as they sat eating their mid-day meal alone one daythe mother being, as we have said, a widow, and Charlie an only childwhat do you think of doing, now that you have left school? for you know my income renders it impossible that I should send you to college.
I dont know what to think, mother. Of course I intend to do something. If you had only influence with some one in power who could enable a fellow to get his foot on the first round of any sort of ladder, something might be done, for you know Im not exactly useless, though I cant boast of brilliant talents, but
Your talents are brilliant enough, Charlie, said his mother, interrupting; besides, you have been sent into this world for a purpose, and you may be sure that you will discover what that purpose is, and receive help to carry it out if you only ask God to guide you. Not otherwise, she added, after a pause.
Do you really believe, mother, that every one who is born into the world is sent for a purpose, and with a specific work to do?
I do indeed, Charlie.
What! all the cripples, invalids, imbeciles, even the very infants who are born to wail out their sad lives in a few weeks, or even days?
Yesall of them, without exception. To suppose the opposite, and imagine that a wise, loving, and almighty Being would create anything for no purpose seems to me the very essence of absurdity. Our only difficulty is that we do not always see the purpose. All things are ours, but we must ask if we would have them.
But I have asked, mother, said the youth, with an earnest flush on his brow. You know I have done so often, yet a way has not been opened up. I believe in your faith, mother, but I dont quite believe in my own. There surely must be something wronga screw loose somewhere.
He laid down his knife and fork, and looked out at the window with a wistful, perplexed expression.
How I wish, he continued, that the lines had been laid down for the human race more distinctly, so that we could not err!
And yet, responded his mother, with a peculiar look, such lines as are obviously laid down we dont always follow. For instance, it is written, Ask, and it shall be given you, and we stop there, but the sentence does not stop: Seek, and ye shall find implies care and trouble; Knock, and it shall be opened unto you hints at perseverance, does it not?
Theres something in that, mother, said Charlie, casting another wistful glance out of the window. Come, I will go out and seek! I see Shank Leather waiting for me. We agreed to go to the shore together, for we both like to watch the waves roaring in on a breezy day like this.
The youth rose and began to encase his bulky frame in a great pilot-cloth coat, each button of which might have done duty as an afternoon tea-saucer.
I wish you would choose any companion to walk with but young Leather, said the widow, with a sigh. Hes far too like his father to do you any good.
Mother, would you have me give up an old playmate and school-fellow because he is not perfect? asked the youth in grave tones as he tied on a sou-wester.
Well, nonot exactly, but
Not having a good reason ready, the worthy woman only smiled a remonstrance. The stalwart son stooped, kissed her and was soon outside, battling with the stormfor what he styled a breezy day was in reality a wild and stormy one.
Long before the period we have now reached Mrs Brooke had changed her residence to the sea-coast in the small town of Sealford. Her cottage stood in the centre of the village, about half-a-mile from the shore, and close to that of her bosom friend, Mrs Leather, who had migrated along with her, partly to be near her and partly for the sake of her son Shank, who was anxious to retain the companionship of his friend Brooke. Partly, also, to get her tippling husband away from old comrades and scenes, in the faint hope that she might rescue him from the great curse of his life.
When Charlie went out, as we have said, he found that Shank had brought his sister May with him. This troubled our hero a good deal, for he had purposed having a confidential talk with his old comrade upon future plans and prospects, to the accompaniment of the roaring sea, and a third party was destructive of such intention. Besides, poor May, although exceedingly unselfish and sweet and good, was at that transition period of life when girlhood is least attractiveat least to young men: when bones are obtrusive, and angles too conspicuous, and the form generally is too suggestive of flatness and longitude; while shyness marks the manners, and inexperience dwarfs the mind. We would not, however, suggest for a moment that May was ugly. By no means, but she had indeed reached what may be styled a plain period of lifea period in which some girls become silently sheepish, and others tomboyish; May was among the former, and therefore a drag upon conversation. But, after all, it mattered little, for the rapidly increasing gale rendered speech nearly impossible.
Its too wild a day for you, May, said Brooke, as he shook hands with her; I wonder you care to be out.
She doesnt care to be out, but I wanted her to come, and shes a good obliging girl, so she came, said Shank, drawing her arm through his as they pressed forward against the blast in the direction of the shore.
Shank Leather had become a sturdy young fellow by that time, but was much shorter than his friend. There was about him, however, an unmistakable look of dissipationor, rather, the beginning of itwhich accounted for Mrs Brookes objection to him as a companion for her son.
We have said that the cottage lay about half-a-mile from the shore, which could be reached by a winding lane between high banks. These effectually shut out the view of the sea until one was close to it, though, at certain times, the roar of the waves could be heard even in Sealford itself.
Such a time was the present, for the gale had lashed the sea into wildest fury, and not only did the three friends hear it, as, with bent heads, they forced their way against the wind, but they felt the foam of ocean on their faces as it was carried inland sometimes in lumps and flakes. At last they came to the end of the lane, and the sea, lashed to its wildest condition, lay before them like a sheet of tortured foam.
Grand! isnt it? said Brooke, stopping and drawing himself up for a moment, as if with a desire to combat the opposing elements.
If May Leather could not speak, she could at all events gaze, for she had superb brown eyes, and they glittered, just then, like glowing coals, while a wealth of rippling brown hair was blown from its fastenings, and flew straight out behind her.
Look! look there! shouted her brother with a wild expression, as he pointed to a part of the rocky shore where a vessel was dimly seen through the drift.
Shes trying to weather the point, exclaimed Brooke, clearing the moisture from his eyes, and endeavouring to look steadily.
Shell never weather it. See! the fishermen are following her along-shore, cried young Leather, dropping his sisters arm, and bounding away.
Oh! dont leave me behind, Shank, pleaded May.
Shank was beyond recall, but our hero, who had also sprung forward, heard the pleading voice and turned back.
Look! look there! shouted her brother with a wild expression, as he pointed to a part of the rocky shore where a vessel was dimly seen through the drift.
Shes trying to weather the point, exclaimed Brooke, clearing the moisture from his eyes, and endeavouring to look steadily.
Shell never weather it. See! the fishermen are following her along-shore, cried young Leather, dropping his sisters arm, and bounding away.
Oh! dont leave me behind, Shank, pleaded May.
Shank was beyond recall, but our hero, who had also sprung forward, heard the pleading voice and turned back.
Here, hook on to me, he cried quickly, for he was in no humour to delay.
The girl grasped his arm at once, and, to say truth, she was not much of a hindrance, for, although somewhat inelegant, as we have said, she was lithe as a lizard and fleet as a young colt.
A few minutes brought them to the level shore where Brooke left May to shelter herself with some fisher-women behind a low wall, while he ran along to a spot where a crowd of fishermen and old salts, enveloped in oil-skins, were discussing the situation as they leaned against the shrieking wind.
Will she weather it, Grinder, think you? he asked of an elderly man, whose rugged features resembled mahogany, the result of having bid defiance to wind and weather for nigh half a century.
She may, Mr Brooke, an she maynt, answered the matter-of-fact man of the sea, in the gruff monotone with which he would have summoned all hands to close reef in a hurricane. If her tackle holds shell do it. If it dont she wont.
Weve sent round for the rocket anyhow, said a smart young fisherman, who seemed to rejoice in opposing his broad chest to the blast, and in listening to the thunder of the waves as they rolled into the exposed bay in great battalions, chasing each other in wild tumultuous fury, as if each were bent on being first in the mad assault upon the shore.
Has the lifeboat coxswain been called? asked Charlie, after a few minutes silence, for the voice of contending elements was too great to render converse easy or agreeable.
Yes, sir, answered the man nearest to him, but shes bin called to a wreck in Mussel Bay, an that brig will be all right or in Davy Joness locker long afore th lifeboat ud fetch round here.
Silence again fell on the group as they gazed out to sea, pushing eagerly down the beach until they were ankle-deep in the foam of each expended wave; for the brig was by that time close on the point of rocks, staggering under more sail than she could carry with safety.
Shell do it! exclaimed the smart young fisherman, ready to cheer with enthusiastic hope.
Done for! Lost! cried one, while something like a groan burst from the others as they saw the brigs topmasts go over the side, and one of her sails blown to ribbons. She fell away towards the rocks at once.
Like great black teeth these rocks seemed to leap in the midst of the foam, as if longing to grasp the ill-fated vessel, which had, indeed, all but weathered the dangerous point, and all might have been well if her gear had only held; but now, as if paralysed, she drifted into the bay where certain destruction awaited her.
Just at that moment a great cheer arose, for the rocket-cart, drawn by the men of the Coast-Guard, was seen rattling over the downs towards them.
Anxiety for the fate of the doomed brig was now changed into eager hope for the rescue of her crew. The fishermen crowded round the Coast-Guard men as they ran the cart close down to the waters edge, and some of themspecially the smart young fellow already mentionedmade eager offer of their services. Charlie Brooke stood aloof, looking on with profound interest, for it was the first time he had ever seen the Manby rocket apparatus brought into action. He made no hasty offer to assist, for he was a cool youtheven while burning with impatient enthusiasmand saw at a glance that the men of the Coast-Guard were well able to manage their own affairs and required no aid from him.
As the brig was coming straight in they could easily calculate where she would strike, so that the rocket men could set up their triangle and arrange their tackle without delay. This was fortunate, for the wreck was carried shoreward with great rapidity. She struck at last when within a short distance of the beach, and the faces of those on board could be distinctly seen, and their cries heard, as both masts snapped off and were swept over the side, where they tore at the shrouds like wild creatures, or charged the hulk like battering-rams. Instantly the billows that had borne the vessel on their crests burst upon her sides, and spurted high in air over her, falling back on her deck, and sweeping off everything that was moveable. It could be seen that only three or four men were on deck, and these kept well under the lee of the bulwarks near the stern where they were strongest.
No passengers, I think, said one of the fishermen; no women, anyhow.
Not likely theyd be lowed on deck even if there was, growled Grinder, in his monotone.
Now, then, out o the way, cried the leader of the Coast-Guard men, as he laid a rocket in its place. Line all clear, Fred?
All clear.
Next moment there was a burst of flame, a crash, and a vicious whizz as the powerful projectile leaped from its stand and sped out to sea, in grand defiance of the opposing gale, with its light line behind it.
A cheer marked its flight, but a groan told of its descent into the boiling sea, considerably to the left of the wreck.
What a pity! cried Shank Leather, who had come close to his friend when the rocket-cart arrived.
No matter, said Brooke, whose compressed lips and flashing eyes told of deep but suppressed feelings. There are more rockets.
He was right. While he was speaking, another rocket was placed and fired. It was well directed, but fell short. Another, and yet another, rose and fell, but failed to reach its mark, and the remainder of the rockets refused to go off from some unknown causeeither because they had been too long in stock or had become damp.
Meantime the brig was tossed farther and farther in, until she stuck quite fast. Then it became evident that she must soon break up, and her crew perish. Hasty plans and eager advice were proposed and given. Then the smart young fisherman suddenly sprang forward, and threw off his oil-coat and sou-wester.
Here! hold on! he cried, catching up the end of the rocket line, and fastening it round his waist, while he kicked off his heavy boots.
You cant do it, Bill, cried some.
Too far to swim, cried others.
The seas ll knock the life out o ye, said Grinder, afore youre clear o the sand.
Despite these warnings the brave young fellow dashed into the foam, and plunged straight into the first mighty breaker that towered over his head. But he was too much excited to act effectively. He failed to time his plunge well. The wave fell upon him with a roar and crushed him down. In a few seconds he was dragged ashore almost insensible.
Example, whether good or bad, is infectious. Another strapping young fellow, stirred to emulation, ran forward, and, seizing the rope, tied it round his own waist, while they helped poor Bill up the beach and seated him on a sand-bank.
The second youth was more powerful than the firstand cooler. He made a better attempt, but only got past the first wave, when his comrades, seeing that he was exhausted, drew him back. Then a thirda broad burly youthcame forward.
At this point the soul of Shank Leather took fire, for he was by no means destitute of generous impulses, and he tried to get hold of the rope.