e put his arm round the boy whom
he had led into danger he groaned pitiably.

"I wonder if Neil's out looking for us," Hutton said from the bows.

"Not much use," said Hall. "If only this mist would lift!"

But it did not lift. For another five minutes we tore through the
waves, which as we neared the shore became wilder and rougher. Our
boat, half full of water, staggered at every shock, and more than once
we believed her last plunge had been taken.

On either side of us, for the little distance we could see through the
mist, there was nothing but white foam and surging billows; behind us
rushed the towering waves, overtaking us one by one, tossing us aloft
and dashing us down, till every board of our boat creaked and groaned.
Above us the rain poured in torrents, dashing on to our bare heads, and
blinding us whenever we turned our faces back.

Then Hall cried out, "Listen! those must be breakers behind us!"

Assuredly they were! On either side we could hear the deafening thunder
of the surf as it dashed over the rocks.

"Then, thank God!" exclaimed Hall, "we must have got in between two
reefs; perhaps we shall go aground on the sand!"

The next two minutes are past description. Hutton crawled down beside
me where I sat, and I could feel his hand on my arm, but I had no eyes
except for Charlie, who sat pale and motionless with Hall's arm round
him.

"Now!" shouted Hall, abandoning the tiller, and tightening his hold on
the boy.

There was a roar and a rush behind us, our boat swooped up with the
wave, and hung for a moment trembling on its crest, then it fell, and in
an instant we were in the water.

Hutton was beside me as the rush back of that huge wave swept us off our
feet. I seized him by the arm, and next moment we were struggling to
keep our heads up. Then came another monster, and lifted us like
straws, flinging us before it on to the strand, and then rolling and
foaming over us as we staggered to our feet.

Hutton, half stunned, had been swept from my hold, but mercifully was
still within reach. Clutching him by the hair, I dragged him with all
my might towards the land, before the returning wave should once more
sweep us back into the sea. By a merciful Providence, a solitary piece
of rock was at hand to aid us; and clinging to this we managed to
support that terrific rush, and with the next wave stagger on to solid
ground.

But what of Charlie? Leaving my senseless companion, I rush