re now thundering
with a crashing roar that each instant became louder as they neared the
point, throwing their spray high up its precipitous face; and then--Why,
they were lost!

Frank Harness was at this time standing by the side of Kate and Florry
on the poop; but nearer to the former, who had just asked him to save
her little sister should the ship strike.

"I will," said he in a whisper close to her ear, "God helping me! and
you, too; but call me `Frank' again, Miss Meldrum. You did so once, you
know, when you caught me that time I was nearly washed overboard, and
saved me!"

"Do you remember that?" asked Kate.

"I do," said he; "how could I forget it? Do not fear, I'll save you and
Florry too!"

"Thank you, `Frank,' then for your promise," whispered she--in accents
so low that they were almost drowned by the noise of the waves dashing
against the cliff; but he heard her, and his face lightened up as
brightly as if he had been redeemed from all peril and saw heaven before
him.

Onward the ship sped, ever drawing closer to that terrible wall of rock
and yet gaining at the same time inch by inch on the promontory, that
jutted out into the sea like an arm stretched forth to stay her
progress; while, as the anxious moments flew by, the northerly wind
which had come so opportunely to their rescue gradually rose into a
gale, threatening to destroy them--the _Nancy Bell_ approaching the
cliff so closely, as she skirted by, that it seemed to those on board
that they might have touched it by merely stretching out their hands
over the side. The sky, too, was growing darker and darker every
moment.

They were now quite near the southerly point of the cape, and within
half a cable's length of its precipitous face: five minutes--three
minutes--one minute--would settle the question.

"Luff, man, luff!" shouted the captain, as all held their breath with
excitement.

It was a case of touch and go!

"Hurrah! down with the helm! she's done it!" called out Captain Dinks
again, as the vessel glided by the last spur of the promontory, and,
rounding to on the other side, she seemed to get into smoother water--a
fine beach stretching out in the distance a few miles away and no rocks
being apparent--"the old ship has conquered, and won the race after
all."

His triumph, however, was as short-lived as it was premature.

Hardly had the _Nancy Bell_ rounded the cape, than the air grew dense
around them, and snow began to