Final answer:
The provided text excerpts do not mention a captain taking anyone on board the Hesperus, but they describe the ordeal of four men in a dingey struggling to survive after a shipwreck.
Step-by-step explanation:
In "The Wreck of Hesperus", no specific mention of a captain taking anyone on board is directly cited within the provided text excerpts. Rather, these excerpts seem to come from several different stories, including potentially from "The Open Boat" by Stephen Crane, which features four men: a captain, an oiler, a cook, and a correspondent, who are stranded at sea following a shipwreck. The characters work together to survive despite their dire circumstances. Each piece of the text references different aspects of their struggle against the sea, exploring themes of camaraderie, fate, and the human condition in the face of nature's indifference.