When the Elsinore dipped her port-rail under and scooped several
hundred tons of South Atlantic, and then, immediately rolling her
starboard-rail under, had another hundred tons of breaking sea fall
in board upon her, all the men forsook everything and scrambled for
life upon the fife-rail. In the bursting spray they were quite
hidden; and then I saw them and counted them all as they emerged into
view. Again they waited for the water to subside.
The mass of wreckage pursued by Mr. Pike and his men ground a hundred
feet along the deck for'ard, and, as the Elsinore's stern sank down
in some abyss, ground back again and smashed up against the cabin
wall. I identified this stuff as part of the bridge. That portion
which spanned from the mizzen-mast to the 'midship-house was missing,
while the starboard boat on the 'midship-house was a splintered mess.
Watching the struggle to capture and subdue the section of bridge, I
was reminded of Victor Hugo's splendid description of the sailor's
battle with a ship's gun gone adrift in a night of storm.
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