re. There is a line
of surf, but it does not run up the shore, as it does everywhere
else."

He at once descended to the deck.

"Thank God!" he said, as he joined Mr. Hardy and Harry who, on
seeing him coming down, had made their way to the shrouds, "there
is a break in the surf. It is not a complete break, but there is
certainly an inlet of some sort. And though it looks as if there
were a bar, there may be plenty of water for us for, with such a
sea as this, it would break in three fathoms of water and, as we
don't draw more than two, we may get over it. At any rate, it is
our only hope."

"It gives us a chance, if we strike," the lieutenant said, "for it
will be comparatively calm water, inside the bar. Those who can
swim should have no difficulty in getting ashore. The others might
do so, on wreckage. Her masts are sure to come out of her, if she
strikes heavily."

"I shall be obliged if you will go up to the foretop, Hardy, and
con the brig in; but mind you, come down before we get to the white
water. You may as well send Mr. Eden down."

Mr. Hardy was not long before he came down again and, at the
captain's suggestion, both he and Harry went below, and armed
themselves with pistols. As soon as they came up again, they took
their places by Fairclough. The seamen had all gathered aft. The
boatswain had cut the lashings holding the spars--that had been
sent down from aloft--in their place by the bulwarks. The boats had
all been torn from their davits, or smashed; with the exception of
the largest cutter, which lay bottom upwards in the middle of the
ship, securely lashed to the deck.

"Now, men," the captain said, raising his voice almost to a shout,
so that all might hear him, "you have behaved as well as men could
do, during this storm; and I have no doubt that you will continue
to do so, to the end. Remember that no one is to leave the ship,
till I give the order. If you are cool and calm, there is good
ground for hope that all may be saved.

"If the mast falls, you who have hatchets run forward at once, and
stand in readiness to cut the lanyards; but don't strike until I
give the order."

They were now fast approaching the line of surf.

"Let everyone take hold of something," Mr. Fairclough shouted. "If
we strike, we are sure to be pooped."

Another minute, and she was close to the breaking waves. Everyone
held his breath as, impelled by a great breaker, she dashed into
the surf with the swiftness