that which
threatened the brig's crew.

"Spell ho!" was the cry, and Peter and those he had spoken to took their
places at the pumps.

Another day came to an end. During the next night the water gained so
much on the pumps that Captain Hawkes resolved to head the brig in for
the land in the hopes of making some sheltering port. Whereabouts he
was he could not exactly tell. Again and again the well was sounded.
The night was pitchy dark, the wind blew harder than ever, and the
foam-topped seas raged round the hapless brig. The men laboured at the
pumps, the captain and mate working as hard as the rest, for they all
knew that their lives depended on their exertions.

Hour after hour passed by. Day was approaching. The captain thought
that they must be nearing the land. The men at length cried out that
they could work no more without food. Peter was sent down to get it.
He crept about in the dark searching in the lockers for what could be
found. He felt the water above his knees, but he was so wet that he did
not heed it; it was his duty to get the food, he would not return
without it. He fancied that he heard loud cries and shouting on deck,
though the howling and whistling of the wind and the roar of the sea
almost drowned all other sounds. Presently he was sensible that the
vessel had received a heavy blow. Another and another followed. He had
found the food he was sent for, and was making his way with a heavy load
up the companion ladder, when a sudden heave of the vessel threw it over
him, and he fell to the bottom. He was stunned with the fall and lay
insensible for awhile--how long he could not tell--but he recovered
after some time, and the ladder being jerked back into its place, he
scrambled up on deck. He saw no one. On looking over the side he
discovered the boat, with the captain and crew, pulling away a few
fathoms off. He shouted to them, entreating to be taken in. Old Jim
cried out in return:

"We will come for you." But either they found it impossible to return,
or feared that the boat would be stove in in making the attempt. Peter
supposed truly that they had quitted the brig, believing that she would
immediately sink. At that moment another sea struck her, and lifting
her up, she once more glided on. Fearing that she would again ground,
and that the next sea might sweep over her deck, he sprang to the main
rigging and climbed up into the top. Scarcely had he left the deck when