at awful
moment could not refrain from a joke. Even Murray smiled.

"I wish that I were like you, Paddy," said Jack; "I couldn't have said
that sort of thing just now."

"Well, but I'm sure that I can't help feeling as if every tooth in my
mouth had been hauled out with a huge wrench," observed Adair. "There!
there goes the last."

"We must lighten the ship aft as much as possible, Mr Gale, and make
sail on the stump of the foremast, so as to force her up on the beach,"
observed the captain. "If we can find the beach," he added in a lower
voice.

These orders were promptly obeyed. Every man worked with a will. There
was no hurry, no confusion, though all were engaged in the most active
exertion. No one seemed to be conscious, while thus at work, that in a
few short minutes their fate might be sealed. Meantime, sail being set
forward, while the ship headed on towards the shore, Captain Hartland
and the master were engaged in looking out, in the hopes of discovering
some sandy beach between the rocks, on which they might run the ship.
Still they scarcely expected to find what they were seeking for; yet no
one on board would have guessed from their looks what very slight hopes
they entertained of success. The work was done; the ship hurried
through the raging surf. Still the most perfect discipline prevailed;
not a man quitted his station. Here and there a few might be seen
loosing their shoe-ties, or getting ready to cast off their flushing
coats; but no other sign was observable that an awful struggle for life
and death was about to commence.

"Where are we driving to, Jack?" asked Adair; "I cannot make out through
all this spray."

"I thought I caught a glimpse of a white patch not much bigger than my
hand when we were at the top of the last sea," answered Rogers. "I hope
it may be sand."

"Starboard, starboard!" shouted the captain. Three hands were at the
helm. The spokes flew quickly round. A little sandy bay appeared; it
seemed under the ship's bowsprit; then she was enveloped in a thick
cloud of foam; the terrific roar of the surf became deafening. On flew
the corvette; a concussion which sent all who had not a secure hold flat
on the deck was felt, and the seas came rolling up with tremendous
force, heaving her broadside to the beach, and about twenty fathoms from
it. Still they did not at first break completely over her; a rock,
inside of which she had been judiciously steered, somewhat b