ter all she may claw off the land,
although she will have a hard job to do it."

The old officer and the boy proceeded on the way they had previously
been pursuing. They had gone some distance when they saw a light
approaching them.

"Now, if my sister Sally hasn't sent Tom to look for us, or I am much
mistaken," he exclaimed to himself rather than to his companion. "Poor
soul! she's been in a precious quandary at our not returning sooner, and
has been fancying that we shall be melted by the rain, or carried off
the cliffs by the wind, though it blows directly on them."

The lieutenant was right in his conjectures; in another minute a voice
was heard shouting, "Dat you, Massa Pack an' Massa Ned?"

"Aye, aye," answered the lieutenant; "keep your lantern shaded from the
sea, or it may be mistaken for a signal."

Directly afterwards a tall figure could be discerned coming towards him.
"Missie Sarah in drea'ful way, cos you an' Massa Ned not come back when
de wind an' rain kick up such a hulabaloo," said the same voice which
had before spoken.

The lieutenant explained the cause of their delay, and bade Tom hasten
back and tell his mistress that they would soon be at home, but were
anxious to ascertain the fate of a vessel they had discovered closer
in-shore than she should be. "Beg her not to be alarmed; and, Tom, you
come back with a coil of rope and a couple of oars from the boat-house.
We may not want them, for I hope the coast-guard men will be up to the
spot in time to help, should the craft unfortunately come ashore, but it
is just as well to be prepared to render assistance in case of need."

Tom, handing the lantern to the boy, hurried back to execute the orders
he had received, the lieutenant and his young companion following at a
slower pace. The fast increasing darkness had now completely shut out
the brig from sight. When last perceived, however, her head was pointed
in a direction which, could she maintain, she might weather the rocks
under her lee. Presently the loud report of a gun was heard sounding
high above the roar of the seas which broke on the shore.

"That was fearfully near," observed Edward.

"It was indeed," said the lieutenant. "I hope that it will hurry Hanson
and his men. The master of the brig has discovered his danger. There
is no chance of her escaping, I fear."

"I can see her!" cried the boy; "one of her top-masts has gone, she's
drifting bodily on shore."

"Poor fell