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CHAPTERXV
INWHICHTRUMETTALKSOFCAPTAINNAT
Summerwasover，autumncame，passed，anditwaswinter——JohnEllery’sfirstwinterinTrumet。Fishweirsweretakenup，thebayfilledwithice，thepacketceasedtorun，andthevillagesettleddowntohibernateuntilspring。Thestagecamethroughonitsregulartrips，exceptwhensnoworslushrenderedtheroadsimpassable，butpassengerswereveryfew。Occasionallytherewerenortheastgales，withshriekingwinds，drivinggustsofsleetandhailandasurfalongtheoceansidethatbellowedandroaredandtorethesandybeachintonewshapes，washingawayshoalsandbuildingothers，blockingthemouthofthelittleinletwherethefishboatsanchoredandopeninganewchannelahundredyardsfartherdown。Twicetherewerewrecks，oneofafishingschooner，thecrewofwhichwerefortunateenoughtoescapebytakingtothedories，andanother，aBritishbark，whichstruckonthefarthestbarandwasbeatentopiecesbythegreatwaves，whilethetownspeoplestoodhelplesslywatchingfromtheshore，forlaunchingaboatinthatsurfwasimpossible。
Theministerwasoneofthosewhowatched。Newsofthedisasterhadbeenbroughttothevillagebythelightkeeper’sassistant，andElleryandmostoftheable-bodiedmenintownhadtrampedthethreemilestothebeach，facingthescreamingwindandthecuttingblastsofflyingsand。Astheycameoverthedunesthereweretimeswhentheyhadtodigtheirheelsintothegroundandbendforwardtostandagainstthefreezinggale。And，astheydrewnearer，thethunderofthemightysurfgreweverlouder，untiltheysawthewhitecloudsofsprayleaphighabovethecrazilytossing，flappingbunchesofbeachgrassthattoppedthelastknoll。
Threemastsandabrokenbowspritstickingslantwiseupfromawhirlofcreamywhite，thatwasalltheycouldseeofthebark，atfirstglance。Butoccasionally，asthebreakersdrewbackforanothercruelblow，theycaughtglimpsesofthetilteddeck，smashedbareofhousesandrail。
“Thoseblackthingsonthemasts？“askedEllery，bendingtoscreamthequestionintotheearofGaiusWinslow，hiscompanion。“Arethey——itcan’tbepossiblethatthey’re——“
“Yup，“shriekedGaiusinreply，“they’remen。Crewlashedintheriggin’。Poorfellers！it’llsoonbeoverfor’em。Andthey’remostlikelyfrozenstiffa’readyandwon’tsensedrownin’，that’sacomfort。“
“Men！“repeatedtheministerinhorror。Men！GreatGod！andarewetostandbyhereandseethemdiewithoutliftingahand？Why，it’sbarbarous！It’s——“
Winslowseizedhisarmandpointed。
“Look！“heshouted。“Lookatthem！Howmuchgoodwouldourliftin’handsdoagainstthem？“
Ellerylooked。Theundertow，thatsecond，wassuckingthebeachdry，suckingwithsuchforcethatgravelandsmallstonespattereddowntheslopeinshowers。Andbehinditawave，itsraggedtopraveledbythewindintowhitestreamers，waspilingup，up，up，sheerandgreenandmighty，curlingovernowanddescendingwithahammerblowthatshookthelandbeneaththeirfeet。Andbackofitrearedanother，andanother，andanother，aneighthofamileofwhirling，surging，terrificbreakers，withayellinghurricanewhippingthemon。
Itwassoonover，asGaiushadsaiditwouldbe。Amightyleapofspray，asectionofhullbrokenoffandtossedintoviewforaninstant，thentwoofthemastswentdown。Theotherfollowedalmostatonce。Thenthewatchers，mostofthem，wentbacktothevillage，sayinglittleornothinganddispersingsilentlytotheirhomes。
DuringthenextfortnightJohnElleryconductedsixfuneralservices，briefprayersbesidethegravesofunknownmenfromthatwreck。Thebodies，astheywerewashedashore，wereputintoplaincoffinspaidforbytheboardofselectmen，andburiedinthecorneroftheRegularcemeterybesideotherwaifsthrownupbytheseainotheryears。Itwasasadexperienceforhim，butitwasanexperienceandtendedtomakehimforgethisownsorrowjustalittle。Or，ifnottoforget，atleasttothinkofandsympathizemorekeenlywiththesorrowsofothers。Somewhere，inEnglandorIrelandorscatteredoverthewideworld，therewerewomenan
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