er it, but not
with sufficient force to prevent his struggling towards the rocket-line,
which he eventually reached and cleared.

"Wasn't that nately done!" cried an enthusiastic young fisherman on the
beach; "but, och! what is he up to now?"

A few seconds sufficed to give an answer to his question. Instead of
letting go the line and returning, young Aspel tied it round his waist,
and ran or waded to the extreme edge of the reef which was nearest to
the wreck. The vessel lay partially to leeward of him now, with not
much space between, but that space was a very whirlpool of tormented
waves. Aspel gave no moment to thought. In his then state of mind he
would have jumped down the throat of a cannon. Next instant he was
battling with the billows, and soon reached the ship; but now his danger
was greatest, for the curling waves threw him so violently against the
side of the wreck that he almost lost consciousness and missed the
lifebuoy which, with a rope attached, had been thrown to him by the
anxious crew.

A great cry of anxiety arose at this, but Mr Bright had anticipated it,
and the first mate was ready to aid him. Leaping into the sea with a
rope round his waist, Mr Bright caught Aspel as he struggled past. The
mate's powerful hands held them both fast. Some of the crew lent a
ready hand, and in a few seconds George Aspel was hauled on board. He
had quite recovered by that time, and replied with a smile to the
ringing cheer that greeted him. The cheer was echoed again and again by
the men on shore. Major Beak attempted to grasp his hand, but failed.
Mr Blurt, feeling an irresistible impulse, tried to embrace him, but
was thrust aside, fell, and rolled into the lee-scuppers.

Scattering the people aside Aspel sprang on the bulwarks at the bow,
and, snatching Mr Stiff's travelling-cap from his head, held it up as a
signal to the men on shore.

Well did the youth know what to do in the circumstances, for many a time
had he talked it over with the men of the coastguard in former days. On
receiving an answering signal from the shore he began to haul on the
rocket-line. The men in charge had fastened to it a block, or pulley,
with two tails to it; a line was rove through this block. The instant
the block reached his hands Aspel sprang with it to the stump of the
foremast, and looking round cried, "Who'll lend a--"

"Here you are," said Mr Bright, embracing the mast with both arms and
stooping,--for Mr