1. "The captain, rearing cautiously in the bow, after the dingey soared on a great swell, said that he had seen the lighthouse at Mosquito Inlet."
2. Alert
2.1. "The correspondent looked over his shoulder at the captain. His face was hidden, and he seemed to be asleep."
2.2. "The captain, in the bow, moved on his water-jar and sat erect. 'Pretty long night,' he observed to the correspondent. He looked at the shore. 'Those life-saving people take their time.' 'Did you see that shark playing around?' 'Yes, I saw him. He was a big fellow, all right.'"
2.2.1. Even though the captain was really tired and half asleep, he still saw the shark. He saw it while his head was perched on the water-jar, which is low in the boat as the correspondent couldn't see the captain's face.
2.3. "But the captain hung motionless over the water-jar and the oiler and the..."
3. Calm
3.1. "The captain, in the bow, moved on his water-jar and sat erect. 'Pretty long night,' he observed to the correspondent. He looked at the shore. 'Those life-saving people take their time.' 'Did you see that shark playing around?' 'Yes, I saw him. He was a big fellow, all right.'"
3.1.1. The captain was so calm even when there was a shark around and a bird on his head. He handled the bird very carefully so that the boat wouldn't tip over.
3.2. "Canton flannel gulls flew near and far...One came, and evidently decided to alight on the top of the captain's head."
4. Responsible
4.1. "'Bail her, cook,' said the captain, serenely."
4.2. "and the captain cried: 'Look out now! Steady there!'"
4.2.1. The captain had the sole responsibility to get the other 3 men to shore. He told the crew what to do and when to do it, to help them get safely ashore
5. Dedicated
5.1. "It took an anxious eye to find a lighthouse so tiny."
5.1.1. The captain was so dedicated to take his crew back to shore that he found a lighthouse that was so tiny and he even sacrificed his overcoat which he needed to stay warm.
5.2. "'I wish we had a sail,' remarked the captain. 'We might try my overcoat on the end of an oar and give you two boys a chance to rest.'"
6. Helpful
6.1. "'I wish we had a sail,' remarked the captain. 'We might try my overcoat on the end of an oar and give you two boys a chance to rest.'"
6.1.1. The captain was very helpful to the crew because he had the idea to use his overcoat and he was able to find the lighthouse so that the crew could have hope.