bar of which was _his bar_, and that he had
bargained to act as pilot through its mouth, so that there was ample
excuse for the poor wretch; this, however, in no degree lessened the
danger of the position in which the little _Lark_ was placed.

It was now perfectly dark and very squally, while nothing was visible to
mark the course the vessel should pursue but the phosphorescent light of
the breakers stretching across the bar from shore to shore; while to all
appearance there seemed to be reef only beyond reef, destruction on
which it was scarcely possible the schooner could escape. Though the
_Lark_ was pressed to the utmost, the _Asp_ soon distanced her; and
though Lieutenant Dumaresq showed lights, they were of little or no use
in guiding her course. Squall after squall struck the little schooner;
and, as she heeled over, it sometimes appeared that she would never
again rise, or be able to beat out through the tremendous surf which
came rolling in. At length Mr Kingston judged it wise to shorten sail,
which he forthwith did, having set only his mainsail, jib, and
fore-and-aft foresail, a fore-trysail. He also sent a good hand on the
fore-yard to look out for any break which might happily appear in the
white wall of surf which came rolling in over the surrounding shoals.
The little _Lark_ had now reached the innermost of the three bars, and
was pitching into the seas, which came foaming up and rolling over her
decks. She had the cutter towing after her, and astern of that was the
schooner's boat. That very soon began to fill, and finally swamped,
when it became necessary to cut her adrift. This was done, and she
quickly disappeared. At about a quarter to eight a blue light was
observed close to windward; and as the _Lark_ was wearing off the
heaviest part of the bar, some voices were heard hailing her. It was
soon discovered that they proceeded from the pinnace, which had
apparently several hands in her. Again they hailed, imploring to be
picked up, stating, as far as could be understood, that they had broken
adrift from astern of the _Asp_, with the gig, which was lost; and from
the words which reached the _Lark_, Mr Kingston was very much afraid
that several lives were already sacrificed, while it seemed too probable
that those in the pinnace would share the same fate, unless he could
manage to get near them to take them on board. There was not a moment
to spare. The pinnace, it must be understood, was in