essel, set to work sending off boats to land the passengers.

The first of these reached the little vessel just as she struck the
sandbank she had run foul of for the second time; then coming to a dead
stop as if she meant now to remain there for good and all.

"Are we to go ashore in one of those?" asked Bob, pointing out the fleet
of small boats making for the steamer, besides the two that had already
come up to her; some being launched by the watermen on the beach in
addition to those sent off from the pier. "What fun to have a boat all
to ourselves, as I suppose we shall!"

"Yes, I suppose so, if we are to get to land at all," replied the
Captain, who had become a little more amiable, his natural good-humour
asserting itself as the pain in his foot somewhat subsided; "I don't see
how we can otherwise, unless we swim for it; the vessel is now stuck
quite fast with no chance of her moving until she is lightened of her
cargo of passengers."

"That will be jolly!" cried Bob. "Why it's just like a regular
shipwreck!"

"Ah, my boy," said the old sailor, shaking his head, "if you ever
experienced the realities of one, you would not speak so lightly. A
shipwreck, let me tell you, is no laughing matter."

"I didn't mean that," explained Bob, "I was only thinking how jolly it
would be for us all to have a row, instead of landing at the pier
quietly, as we would have done if nothing had happened."

"Sure, and I don't see where your `jollity' comes in, Master Bob!"
observed his aunt, not by any means relishing the prospect. "It may be
all very well for you; but I can't say I like the idea of scrambling
down the side of the vessel into one of these cockleshells and running
the risk of getting drowned."

"Oh, no, you won't, ma'am," rejoined the Captain chuckling again, her
comical consternation soothing the last acerbities of his temper. "You
shan't drown yourself if I can prevent you, ma'am!"

There was no necessity, however, for the Captain to exert himself
especially on her behalf; for, the boats being hauled up in turn
alongside and only a proper number being allowed to get into each, no
casualty occurred such as Mrs Gilmour dreaded. Thus, in a very short
space of time, all the passengers were safely transferred from the
stranded steamer to the shore, where a large crowd of sympathising
bystanders had now assembled.

"There!" exclaimed the Captain, as he jumped out of the wherry in which
their little party h