ht list to starboard, as if settling down on the
rocks, a fact which confirmed the captain in his belief that it had been
high water when she went on the reef. This increased his satisfaction.

"She won't move now," said he to Mr Meldrum. "She's wedged as securely
forwards as if she were on her cradle; and, unless a storm comes, she'll
last for a week."

"How about when the tide flows again?" asked the other.

"Oh, she can't float off. That weight of water in the fore compartment
has regularly nailed her on the rocks, thus preventing the only danger I
feared--that of her slipping off into deep water as the tide ebbed. As
she struck when it was flood and jammed herself firmly then on the reef,
there she'll remain when it flows again; so, we have plenty of time
before us to transport the whole cargo ashore if we like!"

"I hope so, I'm sure," replied Mr Meldrum; "but you should recollect
that, from the experience we've already had, the weather is not to be
trusted for very long hereabouts. If it comes on to blow again from the
south and the sea should get up, we'll be in a nasty position."

"Don't croak," said Captain Dinks, who seemed to have quite recovered
his spirits as the others around him became despondent. "Look, the
snowstorm has ceased already and the sea-fog is rising and drifting
away. Why, we'll have a fine bright night after all!"

It was as the captain had stated. The fog had lifted up and the snow
stopped falling; but, his hopes of a fine night were doomed to be
disappointed, for, although the sky above cleared for a short spell and
allowed a few stray stars to peep out, while an occasional gleam of
moonshine lit up the ship's surroundings, the heavens were soon obscured
again with thick driving clouds, the wind shifting to the southward and
westward and blowing right into the bay behind Cape Saint Louis, where
the _Nancy Bell_ was aground.

Presently, a heavy rolling sea began to sweep in upon her from the
offing; and as the tide rose again, her stern swung more to the
starboard side, being driven up higher on the rocks, while her whole
frame became uneasy, rocking to and fro and quivering from abaft the
main hatch, the fore part of her grinding and working about in a way
that threatened to tear her soon to pieces.

"I'm afraid she won't last till morning," said Mr Meldrum, who had
never left the deck, but was watching the course of events. "We'd
better take to the boats while we can. By