e 'd make a good figure at the
Admiralty. There," continued he, "day is breaking yonder; we shall soon
know our fate; if the gale freshens after sunrise, it is all up with
us."

"Run the craft in shore and I 'll engage to save her," said Cashel,
eagerly. "I'm a strong swimmer in surf; I rescued a Malabar girl once,
and in a sea nearly as heavy as this."

Sickleton smiled incredulously, and turned away.

"It is freshening, by Jove!" said he, as a squall struck the vessel, and
laid her almost on her beam ends, while every plank shivered as though
she were rending in pieces.

"It's coming stronger, sir," said the pilot, as he shook the sea from
his rough coat and bent his gaze steadfastly towards the east; "I 'd
rather not see that red sunrise. Keep her away, man, keep her away!"

"Shall we try it?" muttered Sickleton, to some whispered observations of
the other.

"We may as well," rejoined the pilot; "she 'll never hold steerage way
with her present canvas, and if she won't bear the mainsail we must go
on shore, and no help for it."

"Bear a hand there, boys!" cried Sickleton; "shake out the mainsail!"

"You 'll carry away the mast," cried Cashel, as he heard the order.

"It 's like enough," growled the pilot, "but yonder's the lee-shore."

"I could save her--I 'm certain I could save her," said Cashel.

"He's thinking of the lady," said the pilot to Sickleton; and the
contemptuous tone showed how humbly he estimated him.

"Breakers ahead!--shoal water!" shouted a voice from the bow.

"'Bout ship!" cried Sickleton; "stand by sheets and tacks there--down
helm! Are ye ready, men?" And the next moment the obedient vessel spun
round, and was cleaving the water on another tack.

"What is it? where am I? is this a dream?" said Lady Kilgoff, as she
moved back the hair from her eyes, and looked up at Cashel, who for
hours had never moved or stirred.

"To _me_ it has been a delicious dream," said Cashel, as he met her
glance; "and if it were not that you may feel alarmed, it would be still
such."

"What a terrible sea! Where are we?"

"Not far from shore," said Cashel, encouragingly.

"A devilish deal too near it, though," muttered the pilot, under his
breath.

"Oh, I remember all now. Where is my Lord, Mr. Cashel? Is he ill?"

"He 's gone below--he is sleeping, I believe. It has been a wild night
for _you_; and you 've passed it here on the deck."

"Here?" said she, looking up and blushing, for she still