ng for the
reception of a post to steady the hut. "There's lots of work; you can
please yourself as to choice."

"Then I comed fur to suggist that the purvisions and things a-top o' the
sandbank isn't quite so safe as they might be."

"True, Briant; I was just thinking of that as you came up. Go and see
you make a tight job of it. Get Rokens to help you."

Briant hurried off, and calling his friend, walked with him to the top
of the sandbank, leaning heavily against the gale, and staggering as
they went. The blast now whistled so that they could scarcely hear each
other talk.

"We'll be blowed right into the sea," shouted Tim, as the two reached a
pile of casks and cases.

"Sure, that's me own belaif entirely," roared his companion.

"What d'ye say to dig a hole and stick the things in it?" yelled Rokens.

"We're not fit," screamed Phil.

"Let's try," shrieked the other.

To this Briant replied by falling on his knees on the lee side of the
goods, and digging with his hands in the sand most furiously. Tim
Rokens followed his example, and the two worked like a couple of
sea-moles (if such creatures exist) until a hole capable of holding
several casks was formed. Into this they stowed all the biscuit casks
and a few other articles, and covered them up with sand. The remainder
they covered with tarpaulin, and threw sand and stones above it until
the heap was almost buried out of sight. This accomplished, they
staggered back to the hut as fast as they could.

Here they found everything snugly secured, and as the rocks effectually
sheltered the spot from the gale, with the exception of an occasional
eddying blast that drove the sand in their faces, they felt
comparatively comfortable. Lighting their pipes, they sat down among
their comrades to await the termination of the storm.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

THE STORM.

A storm in almost all circumstances is a grand and solemnising sight,
one that forces man to feel his own weakness and his Maker's might and
majesty. But a storm at sea in southern latitudes, where the winds are
let loose with a degree of violence that is seldom or never experienced
in the temperate zones, is so terrific that no words can be found to
convey an adequate idea of its appalling ferocity.

The storm that at this time burst upon the little sandbank on which the
shipwrecked crew had found shelter, was one of the most furious,
perhaps, that ever swept the seas. The wind shrieke