gress was slower than it would otherwise have been. His companions
looked to the mate, whose skill and courage had inspired their
confidence, to point out the means of safety, if there were any means
of safety in such a tempest. The brig had evidently shifted her cargo in
the hold, for she had heeled over until the water was a foot deep in the
lee scuppers.

"It will be all over with the Waldo in two minutes more," said
Wallbridge, in a loud voice, which was necessary in order to make
himself heard above the roar of the tempest.

"I don't know this part of the bay very well," replied Mr. Carboy in the
same loud tone.

"We shall strike on a ledge in a minute or two."

"Then we will be ready for it," added the mate, taking from within the
fife-rail at the foot of the mainmast a couple of sharp axes, which were
kept for just such emergencies as the present.

"We haven't time to cut away the masts," protested Wallbridge, as a
flash of lightning revealed the axes in the hands of the mate.

"I am not going to cut away the masts. The jolly-boat wouldn't live a
moment in this sea, and we must get the whale-boat overboard," answered
the mate, as he went down into the waist, where the boat was locked up.
"Here, Burns, cut away the lee bulward," he shouted to the only
remaining seaman of the brig.

"Give me the other axe," said Wallbridge. "I know how to use it."

"Good! Make quick work of it," added Mr. Carboy. "Here, steward, bear a
hand at this boat."

The passenger carefully deposited in the fore-sheets of the whale-boat
the heavy bundle he had brought up from the cabin, and seizing the axe,
he applied himself vigorously to the labor of cutting away the bulwark.

The mate and steward cleared away the boat, and swung it around so that
the stern was headed towards the opening. But while the passenger and
the seaman were delivering their blows with the axes as well as the
uneasy motion of the vessel would permit, the brig rose on the sea, and
came down with a most tremendous crash. Over went the mainmast,
shattered at the heel by the bolt of lightning. The planks and timbers
of the Waldo snapped and were ground into splinters as the hull pounded
upon the sharp rocks. The sea began to break over the deck, as the
vessel settled.

"Give me that axe, Burns," yelled the mate, as he sprang to the seaman,
and snatched the implement from his hands. "Clear away the wreck," he
added to the passenger.

Aided by the frequent f