On board the ship the terror and confusion
grew. For a while they were able to beat out to sea until the mast
was carried away. Then the rudder broke, and, as the oars could not be
worked in that fearful tempest, the galley began to drive shorewards.
Night fell, and who can describe the awful hours that followed? All
control of the vessel being lost, she drove onwards whither the wind and
the waves took her. The crew, and even the oar-slaves, flew to the wine
with which she was partly laden, and strove to drown their terrors in
drink. Thus inflamed, twice some of them came to the cabin, threatening
to throw their passengers overboard. But Nehushta barred the door and
called through it that she was well armed and would kill the first
man who tried to lay a hand upon her. So they went away, and after the
second visit grew too drunken to be dangerous.
Again the dawn broke over the roaring, foaming sea and revealed the
fate that awaited them. Not a mile away lay the grey line of shore, and
between them and it a cruel reef on which the breakers raged. Towards
this reef they were driving fast. Now the men grew sober in their fear,
and began to build a large raft of oars and timber; also to make ready
the boat which the galley carried.
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