Darling did not lose a moment, but hurried down to the beach,
sprang into his boat, and was soon sailing over the sea on his errand
of mercy. As he rowed towards the ship, he could not but admire her
noble build and stately bearing. "She is riding in proud security upon
the waves," he said to himself, "but, in a few minutes, she might be a
wreck, lying helplessly among the flinty rocks."

There was no sign of these rocks now, however, for they were covered by
the water; and when he neared the ship, it was plain to see that all
the crew were comfortable and happy, believing that things were right.
As soon as the lighthouse-keeper was observed, a rope was thrown to
him, with which he secured his boat, and then sprang upon deck.

"Can I speak to the captain?"

"No; he is engaged."

"But it is something of importance that I wish to communicate."

"You must wait, then, for he will not listen to you at present."

Darling waited what seemed to him a very weary time before he could get
the attention of the captain. At length the gentleman motioned to him
to come forward.

"Well?"

Darling lifted his hat, and spoke to the captain most respectfully.
"Will you excuse me, sir. You do not, perhaps, know the dangerous
character of this coast as well as I do; but your magnificent vessel is
in imminent peril."

"What do you mean?"

"There will not be water in another half-hour to float her. This is a
rocky channel, and the ship will be wrecked, unless you get her out
into the open sea while you have time."

The colour came into the captain's face, and an angry light into his
eyes, and he immediately began pouring upon the lighthouse-keeper a
volley of abuse.

"Be off, out of this ship at once, or I will have you thrown overboard!
Why do you come here, telling such lies for the sake of a reward? I
will report you to the authorities, my man, and make you wish you had
minded your own business. Get away, I tell you, or it will be the
worse for you."

For a moment, Darling was tempted to do as the captain told him; but
the man's love of duty and conscientiousness was strong within him. He
knew that the vessel, worth probably a hundred thousand pounds, would
certainly go to destruction if left to pursue its course, and how could
he, as a humane and honest man, allow that to occur because a captain
had abused him?

He waited until the wrath of the captain had spent itself, and then,
lifting his honest eyes to his f