wind which would allow the stranger (see note
1) to lay well up along shore, had tempted him to stand in closer than
he should have done. Old Hadden and his son watched the strange vessel
for some time with great interest. Still he stood blindly on.

"There, I feared that it would be so!" exclaimed John; "and if help
don't go to them before high water, not a soul of all on board will
escape."

Too true: the fine ship lay fast, her broadside struck again and again
by the heavy seas, which came rolling in from the eastward.

"Jem, we must go to her!" exclaimed John Hadden suddenly. "Call your
brothers, lad; it won't do to let these poor fellows perish for want of
help."

Scarcely two minutes passed after this, before John Hadden and his five
sons--for Ben also went--were launching their yawl through the surf
which broke on the sandy beach. A few of the people of the village
nearest the water came running down to see the boat off, but John had
not time to tell his wife and daughters of what he was going to do. He
would fain have given them a parting kiss, but time was precious. He
sent up a lad, though, to his home. "Tell them," he said, "we are doing
our duty; we shall be cared for." Away through the foaming sea the
brave men pulled their stout boat. The spray flew over her, and
speedily wetted them through, but for that they cared nothing. The
seas, however, sometimes broke on board, and little Ben was kept hard at
work, baling out the water.

"She is well out at the end of the spit, lads," observed old Hadden; "we
may get close enough for them to heave a rope on board us, if she hangs
together, and I don't see that there is much doubt about her doing
that."

They pulled on for some time, without any one again speaking. "She will
hang very well together," observed John; "but, oh! more's the pity, they
seem to be lowering one of their boats, instead of waiting for our
coming, as if they could reach the shore in her." Such was indeed the
case. A small boat was lowered, and several people were seen to leap
into her. She shoved off, but a current, of which the strangers could
not have known, swept the boat towards the breakers. In another instant
she was rolled right over, and all in her must have perished. Still the
Haddens, thinking that others might be left on board, pulled on lustily
to give them help.

As they rowed out more to sea, they saw another boat making her way
towards the wreck. She ha