they would soon return and tell him how thing

rest of a huge roller and dropped fairly on the rocks. Her forward part, trembling under the tremendous blows of the waves, was hard an

f the wind, and the shattering of iron pla

ished. In the darkness, for now no favouring lightning flash came to throw a light upon the scene, t

its sheets, was flogging itself to ribbons, added to the din, til

oice sounded faint in the midst of the terri

shook h

e fellows will have?" and he pointed to the struggling

he men striving to swing her clear with oars and stretc

ent the cutter, already at a dangerous angle, crashing into the ship's side. The lower block of the foremost fall became dise

ng cutter into matchwood, the wind drowning t

ush for one of the quarter boats. Being more to lee'ard, for the San Martin had str

urging the men to swing the boat clear.

your life, are you?" shouted An

hance. Stand by that rope, take a turn round

who was left; all that they knew was that a few remained to man the falls, but in

yelled

and, more by luck than by good management, the seamen contrived to disengage the falls.

rdenless davits. They were alone-a crippled man, three lads, and a native

e than likely, upon the edge of an encircling reef, they knew not. They must wait till daylight-if they were fated to s

e, awaiting news of their hazardous position, the lads brie

those poor fellows escape being dashed to death upon a rock-bound shore, or being engulfed in the waves, they'll have a terr

less heavy," said Andy. "Is it

th it," replied Mr. McKay; "though th

g," said Ellerton. "The ship d

ater is pouring into the a

t there is deep water close to the reef," said the apprentice. "But let's to work. Terence, you know where the steward's pantry is. Take a

llected five lifebelts, one of which he p

n any case, if there is an island under our lee we had better

lty in getting through the surf,"

pull you through," was t

eturned, having found and secure

mer, "and I think there's a hole on the starboard quarter. But I

Ellerton, buckling on a life

lads," cautio

ikewise putting on a belt. "

h had settled to a list of less than ten degrees, and no longer lifted as

hed off," replied Ellerton. "They would ha

e wind came the unmista

imed Andy, pointing to a

companion, casting off the lashings and unbolti

t at two steps from the bottom of the ladder his feet encountered wa

" he exclaimed

rved into the bargain. And here is a pen full

dy after a short examination. "And I do

o a part of the flat that the sea, by reason of the ship's list, had

, and found Terence with a regular store of provisions-the loot of the st

t in another hou

ing down," chimed

ts are rising,

y," replied Andy, laughing. "Your spi

ll, for even Quexo had rec

e than ordinary severity. Still, I've known similar instances, and within thr

take to the boat almost im

ere on

s stove in, but the

ing with violent hurricanes. The best thing we can do is to land on the island-if we are near one, as I firmly believe is the case-and bring ashore as many of the ship's stores as we can. Then, if not sighte

?" asked Andy. "You may

ovingly. He had ha

Mr. McKay. "Even if the weather continues fine,

hy

l sets in on shore. A boat would certainly be capsized, unless there happens to be a shelter form

at a sight met their gaze as the tropical day

level reef of coral, against which the surf st

in the barrier, giving entrance to the lagoon. The doo

showed unmistakable signs of breaking in two, for her bow and stern had "sagged" till amidships her port side was

ntion. Barely a quarter of a mile away was an island, rugged and precipitou

istance of nearly a mile was a strand of dazzling whiteness, upon which the sheltered waters of the lagoon lapped as gently

f the boat?

swarming up the stanchion of the bridge-for the la

telescope, but no trace of the boat was to be seen. Nei

boats. One, a gig, was, as he had surmised, stove in, three of the planks being shattered. For

and was practically uninjured. Her size and weight would, he kn

he saloon sooner or later. The sooner the better, I think, because he can, if we p

rweight, and his injured limb had to be carefully handl

gainst which the victim steadied himself by his sound leg while he was stretched at full length on the board. On

asked Ellerton, pointing to the is

find it so, for we will have to throw ourse

ame, sir?" continu

e?" was the as

d Ellerton. "Now, lads, three c