ain struck with
terrific violence, and he knew by the rending crash overhead that one or
more of the masts had gone over the side. The ship at the same moment
slewed round and was thrown on her beam-ends. So quickly did this occur
that Glynn had barely time to seize Ailie in his arms and save her from
being dashed against the bulkhead.

The vessel rose again on the next wave, and was hurled on the rocks with
such violence that every one on board expected her to go to pieces
immediately. At the same time the cabin windows were dashed in, and the
cabin itself was flooded with water. Glynn was washed twice across the
cabin and thrown violently against the ship's sides, but he succeeded in
keeping a firm hold of his little charge and in protecting her from
injury.

"Hallo, Glynn!" shouted the captain, as he opened the companion-hatch,
"come on deck, quick! bring her with you!"

Glynn hurried up and placed the child in her father's arms.

The scene that presented itself to him on gaining the deck was indeed
appalling. The first grey streak of dawn faintly lighted up the sky,
just affording sufficient light to exhibit the complete wreck of
everything on deck, and the black froth-capped tumult of the surrounding
billows. The rocks on which they had struck could not be discerned in
the gloom, but the white breakers ahead showed too clearly where they
were. The three masts had gone over the side one after another, leaving
only the stumps of each standing. Everything above board--boats,
binnacle, and part of the bulwarks--had been washed away. The crew were
clinging to the belaying-pins and to such parts of the wreck as seemed
likely to hold together longest. It seemed to poor Ailie, as she clung
to her father's neck that she had been transported to some far-distant
and dreadful scene, for scarcely a single familiar object remained by
which her ocean home, the _Red Eric_, could be recognised.

But Ailie had neither desire nor opportunity to remark on this
tremendous change. Every successive billow raised the doomed vessel,
and let her fall with heavy violence on the rocks. Her stout frame
trembled under each shock, as if she were endued with life, and shrank
affrighted from her impending fate; and it was as much as the captain
could do to maintain his hold of the weather-bulwarks and of Ailie at
the same time. Indeed, he could not have done it at all had not Glynn
stood by and assisted him to the best of his abi