I don't _wish_ to believe that any
English sailor would pass a boat in distress without giving help, if he
saw it."
"I am quite sure no English sailor would, and very few real sailors of
any nation, I think. A real seaman knows too well what sea-perils are,
and that what is another man's case one day may be his the next; and
cowardice and cold-heartedness are the last sins that can be laid at
Jack Tar's door as a rule. But I will finish my story by telling the
children what happened next morning, as it goes to illustrate both my
statements, that it is not easy to see an open boat in a heavy sea, and
that sailors are very ready to risk their lives for each other."
"You're like Captain Marryat, Cousin Peregrine," said Fred.
"He's not a sailor captain, he's a soldier captain," said Maggie. "Go
on, Cousin."
"As I told you, we had two or three hours of very disagreeable work
before our cabins were even tolerably comfortable; but it made us more
tired than ever, and when I did turn in I slept like a top, and the
rolling of the ship only rocked me to sounder slumbers. I was awakened
at seven o'clock next morning by a fellow-passenger, who popped in to
cry, 'There's a man overboard!' 'Who?' shouted I as I jumped up.
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