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。

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