evealed for a
moment a range of frowning cliffs, as if to add horror to a scene that
was already sufficiently appalling. Then all was again dark as Erebus.

In a frenzy of resolution Captain Rik seized an axe with the view of
extemporising a raft, when the Gleam parted amidships, and we might
almost say went out, leaving her crew struggling in the waves.

Sam had seized his wife with his strong left arm--he happened to be
left-handed--and buffeted the waves with his right. Madge held on to
Sammy with the power of maternal love. Sam was aware of that, and felt
comparatively at ease in regard to his first-born.

Robin's arm had been round Letta's waist--unknown to himself or her!--
when the Gleam struck. It did not relax when he felt that they were
afloat. Frank Hedley gallantly offered to take charge of Mrs Langley.

Ebenezer Smith, being unable to swim, confessed the fact, with something
of a gasp, to Captain Rik, who considerately told him never to mind.

"I can swim for both," he said, tying a piece of rope-yarn tight round
his waist, for he had long before cast off coat, vest, and braces; "but
you ought to be ashamed of yourself, a man come to your time o' life,
an' not able to swim!"

"I never lived near the sea, and had no one to teach me," pleaded
Ebenezer in a tremblingly apologetic voice, for the roar of united wind,
waves, and thunder was really tremendous even to those who _could_ swim.

"What o' that?" returned Captain Rik, sternly. "Was there no river or
pond nigh? Even a horse-trough or a washing-tub would have sufficed to
make a man of you. As for teaching--what teaching did you want?
Swimmin' ain't Latin or Greek. It ain't even mathematics--only
aquatics. All the brute beasts swim--even donkeys swim without
teaching. Boh! bah! There, lay hold o' me--so. Now, mind, if you try
to take me round the neck with your two arms I'll plant my fist on the
bridge of your nose, an' let you go to Davy Jones's locker."

A flash of lightning revealed Captain Rik's face in such a way that
Ebenezer Smith resolved to obey him to the letter.

It was at this point of their conversation that the Gleam went down--or
out--and they sank with a gurgle, coming up next moment, however, with a
gasp.

Strange to say, after the first plunge and overthrow amid the boiling
waves, the swimmers found themselves in almost still water.

"You'd better let me take Sammy, ma'am," said Captain Slagg, swimming
quietly alo