ich formed the inner
part of the reef. Even here the landing was far from easy. While some
of the men kept the boat from being dashed against the rocks, Harry,
with the boatswain and the rest, leaped into the water.

"Come, marm," said Mr Bollard to Mrs Clagget. "You were the first in
the boat, and you should be the first out, and do just cling on to my
back, and I will soon place you on dry ground."

"Oh, you will let me into the water, I know you will," answered Mrs
Clagget.

"No, no, marm, don't be afraid," said Bollard, seizing her hands, and
lifting her up on his shoulders as he would have carried his hammock.
"You must set the rest of the ladies an example."

Mrs Clagget's tongue did not cease; but the boatswain, regardless of
what she said, ran with her over the rocks, and putting her down,
quickly returned to the boat. Harry in the meantime having landed May,
the boatswain next took up Emily, and bore her to the shore, while Willy
and Peter scrambled over the rocks, each with a child on his shoulders.
One after the other, the whole of the passengers were thus landed.

The midshipmen were then about to jump into the boat. "No, Dicey, do
you and Patch remain on shore, and take care of the women," said Harry.
"If we are lost, there will be no one to send for help to the
settlement. You understand me? I can trust to your judgment.
Good-bye." Saying this, Harry ordered the crew to shove off, and once
more pulled away to the ship.

Harry had frequently cast an anxious glance towards her. She appeared
already to have got nearer the reef; and his fear was, knowing the depth
of the water on the outside and her already leaky condition, that,
should she strike, she might go down before the rest of the people could
be landed.

The boat had got to the outer end of the reef, when so heavy a squall
met her that the crew, though exerting all their strength, in vain
attempted to pull against it. The ship felt its force; nearer and
nearer she drew to the reef, pitching her bows into the seas as they
rolled along nearly the whole length of the broad estuary. At last she
rose to a heavier sea than ordinary. The cable parted, and the hapless
"Crusader" drove stern-on to the rocks. She struck heavily, the falling
sea driving her broadside on to them. To rescue any of those on board
from the outside of the reef was now an operation of too much danger to
be attempted, and Harry, by the boatswain's advice, steered