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。