going on as well as he expected, told him
to go to his hammock. This he gladly did, leaving Tom in charge of
their friend.

Rayner felt that he greatly needed rest; but as he had expended part of
his watch below, he could not have three hours' sleep.

On coming on deck he found the gale was blowing harder than ever, though
the frigate lay sheltered by the land.

Almost immediately the sound of a distant gun reached his ear. It was
followed rapidly by others, and the sound appeared to come down on the
gale.

"There's a ship in danger on the other side of Portland," observed the
second lieutenant, who was the officer of the watch. "Rayner, go and
tell the captain. He desired to be called if anything happened."

Captain Martin, who had only thrown himself down on his bed in his
clothes, was on his feet in a moment, and followed Rayner on deck.

After listening a minute. "It's more than possible she's our late
antagonist," he observed. "If the gale caught her unprepared, her masts
probably went by the board, and, unable to help herself, she is driving
in here. Get a couple of boats ready with some coils of rope, and
spars, and rockets, and we'll try and save the lives of the poor
fellows."

Rayner was surprised to hear this, supposing that the captain intended
to pull out to sea, whereas he had resolved to go overland to the part
of the coast which probably the ship in distress was approaching.
Although where the frigate lay was tolerably smooth water, yet, from the
white-crested seas which broke outside, and the roaring of the wind as
it swept over the land, it was very evident that no boat could live when
once from under its shelter.

The captain, accompanied by three gun-room officers, Rayner and another
midshipman, and twenty men, landed at the nearest spot where the boats
could put in, and proceeded overland in the direction from which the
sound of the guns had come.

Again and again they boomed forth through the midnight air. Solemnly
they struck on the ear, telling of danger and death. Scarcely, however,
had the party proceeded a quarter of a mile than they ceased. In vain
they were listened for. It was too evident that the ship had struck the
fatal rocks, and if so, there was not a moment to be lost, or too
probably the whole of the hapless crew would be lost.

The western shore was reached at last. As they approached the cliffs
they saw a number of people moving about, and as they got to the