ou are, Peter," said Hixon; "I will try if there's any
way of getting on shore."

"But you may be washed off," said Peter.

"My life is worth little," said the old man, "I am not afraid to die
now, and I may, if I succeed, help to save others."

Fastening a rope round his waist which he secured to a ring-bolt in the
deck, he struggled to the side of the ship nearest the shore. Peter
could no longer distinguish him.

The captain was standing still, undecided what to do, with the
third-mate and five or six seamen who had succeeded in getting aft, when
old Hixon was seen making his way along the deck from amid the mass of
wreck which cumbered it.

"The foot of the mainmast still hangs to the ship and the head rests on
a rock," he said; "what is beyond I cannot tell, it may be water or it
may be land, but the sea does not break over it; it is our only chance
if we can manage to reach it."

"Well, lads, we had better follow old Hixon's advice," said the captain.
"Those who wish it can go."

The mate and the other men hung back.

"Come, Peter," said Hixon, "you and I will set the example then. To my
mind the ship won't hold together many minutes longer; and if we
succeed, as I think we shall, they will follow if there's time. I'll go
sir," he cried to the captain, and grasping Peter, he led him along,
holding on to the rope. They reached the mast, when Peter, keeping
close to his companion, scrambled up it. Alone he felt that he might
have been unable to succeed, but supported by his old friend he made his
way along the mast, which all the time was swayed up and down by the
movement of the ship. He feared lest it should be hurled from its
position, and the rest might be unable to escape by it.

They gained a rugged rock of some extent, but the water washed round
them and the spray occasionally flew over their heads. They were still
at a distance from the mainland, but for the moment safer than on board
the ship. They shouted as loud as they could to induce the rest to
follow them. Every instant they feared that the mast would give way.
Again and again they shouted. At last they caught sight of some one
moving along the mast. He reached them, and it proved to be Emery, the
black steward.

"Are the rest coming?" asked Peter eagerly.

"Hope so; captain tell us to come first," was the answer; and soon
afterwards Bill the cook made his way to the rock. They all shouted
together to give notice of their saf