nd's hand more closely. The gale had now
become furious, and as the light spars were barely able to sustain
even the little canvas spread, the sea swept over the vessel as she lay
storm-tossed and scarce navigable. The hatches were fastened down, the
boats strongly secured, and every precaution of seamanship adopted; and
so long as these were in performance, and a certain activity and bustle
prevailed, so long did Lady Kilgoff's courage appear to support her; but
when all was done, and the men resumed their places in watchful silence,
and her mind was left to the contemplation of the raging hurricane
alone, she seemed to sink, and, with a faint, low sigh, glided from the
seat and fell fainting to the deck.

"You cannot take her below," said Sickleton, as Cashel, raising her in
his arms, was about to carry her to the cabin; "we dare not open the
hatches. See, there it comes again!" and, as he spoke, a great wave
broke over the vessel's quarter and fell in torrents over the deck,
washing, as it receded, several loose spars overboard. By the aid of
coats and cloaks innumerable, Cashel at last succeeded in enveloping the
fair form beside him, and supporting her head upon his arm as he sat,
he saw, to his unspeakable delight, that she soon dropped into a calm
sleep.

"This is a disastrous bit of pleasuring," said Sickleton, as he stood
holding on by one of the braces; "who could have supposed such a gale
was brewing?"

"Well, well," replied Cashel, "if it comes no worse--"

"If it does, we can't stand through it, that's all," said the
lieutenant, dryly. "The old pilot says we shall have to make a tack
to keep clear of the Hook; but what boat can sail on a wind with a
storm-jib and three-reefed topsail?"

"She behaves nobly," said Roland, as he gazed at the sleeping form, to
guard which seemed all his care.

Sickleton mistook the remark, and said, "Ay, that I knew she would; but
the sea is tremendous for a small craft, and see how close we have the
land under our lee--that black mass yonder."

"I 'd give all I own in the world that she were safe on shore," murmured
Cashel, not heeding the other's observation; "I cannot forgive myself
for having induced her to venture out."

The lieutenant made no reply, but peered for a few seconds through the
skylight of the cabin. "My Lord is lying like a dead man," said he;
"fright and sea-sickness together have nearly done for him, and yet
it was only two hours back he thought h