n keeping her
afloat for some time. On she rushed, as if driven by an irresistible
impulse, amid the cheers of the crowd, and the prayers of many that she
might safely reach the land. The brave fellows who manned her struggled
hard and well, but in vain. When the boat was little more three hundred
yards from the shore an immense breaker overtook her.

"She'll be swamped!" "She's gone!" "God save her!" and similar cries
burst from those on shore. Next moment the wave had the boat in its
powerful grasp, tossed her on its crest, whirled her round, and turned
her keel up, leaving her freight of human beings struggling in the sea.

Oh! it was a terrible thing for the thousands on land to stand so close
to those drowning men and women without the power of stretching out a
hand to save! No one could get near them, although they were so near.
They were tossed like straws on the raging surf. Now hurled on the
crest of a wave, now sucked into the hollow beneath, and overwhelmed
again and again. The frail ones of the hapless crew soon perished. The
strong men struggled on with desperate energy to reach the shore. Three
of them seized the keel of the boat, but three times were they driven
from their hold by the force of the seas. Two or three caught at the
floating oars, but most of them were soon carried away by the
under-current. The captain, however, with five or six of the men, still
struggled powerfully for life, and succeeded in swimming close to the
beach.

Up to this point there was one of the spectators who had stood behind
the shelter of a bush, surveying, with sorrowful countenance, the tragic
scene. He was a short, but fine-looking and very athletic man--a
champion Cornish wrestler, named William Jeff. He was a first-rate
boatman, and a bold swimmer. Fortunately he also possessed a generous,
daring heart. When this man saw Captain Phelps near the shore, he
sprang forward, dashed into the surf, at the imminent risk of his life,
and caught the captain by the hair. The retreating water well-nigh
swept the brave rescuer away, but other men of the town, fearless like
himself, leaped forward, joined hands, caught hold of Jeff, and hauled
him safe ashore along with the captain, who was carried away in a state
of insensibility. Again and again, at the risk of his life, did the
champion wrestler wrestle with the waves and conquer them! Aided by his
daring comrades he dragged three others from the jaws of de