The Bird of Dawning

Book excerpt: Originally written in 1933, this classic sea adventure tells of theBlackgauntletand her homeward-bound race from China to London. Disaster strikes when the ship is struck at night by a passing steamer—only half of the crew manages to escape to the lifeboat while the others perish. Cruiser, the 22-year-old second mate who has always longed to be captain, takes command of the survivors as they plan to sail 700 miles to the island of Fayal. Cruiser and his crew battle all odds, including sharks, potential mutiny, a leaky boat, too few provisions, and the sea herself, in this taut and haunting narrative.