Read Free Books

Chapter 5 - This Voyage -
From There Go the Ships by George Shirley

Page 77
was sent down to the captain by the officer of the watch to let him know of the critical state of the ship. "Is the master on deck?" was the reply. "If so, I can do nothing more." The master was looking silently over the stern into the darkness, and listening to the awful sound of the breakers on the rocks. It was a beautiful moonlight night, but the high land hid the moon, and all was dark. The sailors were busy aloft bracing top and top-gallant sails, first to the starboard, then to the larboard side to catch the little puffs of wind that came over the high land on the

 
Your Ad Here
 

Can't find it here?

Custom Search

Books - Factual

Sociology

Poverty - by James Platt

Your Ad Here

right and then the left. These light and variable breezes are called by the sailors "cat's paws," from being like the short stroke of it cat's paw when playing.

Still the ship was going backward to all appearance to destruction, when it stronger "cat's paw" came over the high land, filled the sails that had been braced round to receive it, and took her out into the Straits.

Here, as often elsewhere, "Man's extremity is God's opportunity." Look well after the opportunities, the "cat's paws." The loss of them has been the ruin of millions. Watch for them. Napoleon was once riding down in the front of his troops unattended,
when his horse ran away with him. A soldier dashed out of the ranks, and at the risk of his life stopped the horse and saved the Emperor, who said to the soldier, "Thank you, captain." Now was his opportunity, and he said, "Sir, what regiment?" " The
Guards," was the reply. The soldier immediately posted off to where the Guards were drawn up, and

© Peter Smith 2009